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OAKLAND, Calif. – Golden State Warriors defenseman DeMarcus Cousins is set to miss the rest of the playoffs with a major left quadriceps injury, but is confident he can return to the NBA finals, sources said. of the league at Yahoo Sports.
Cousins, 28, will spend an MRI Tuesday morning, which should help determine if the finals are a realistic goal for the quadruple All-Star, sources said.
But the Warriors, sources said, are mentally preparing for the worst: a torn quad diagnosis and a cousin-free playoff series.
<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "" There is a fairly large quad injury, " coach Steve Kerr said after & nbsp;the collapse of Warriors Game 2& nbsp; in their first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. "We will have an MRI [Tuesday]. But he'll be out for … I'm just going to say a little bit because I think we still do not know how long it will stay. It is important. "" Data-reactid = "19"> "There is a pretty serious injury in the quad," coach Steve Kerr said after the second game of the Warriors failed in their first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. "We". I will have an MRI [Tuesday]. But he'll be out for … I'm just going to say a little bit because I think we still do not know how long it will stay. This is significant. "
Cousins was injured in the first quarter while he pursued a loose ball and his left leg gave way after a bullet in the hand. The 6-foot-10 center immediately grabbed his left quadriceps and asked to be removed from the match.
Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins reacts after injuring his left quad in Game 2 on Monday night. (AP Photo / Jeff Chiu)
He refused the help of his teammates to the locker room and set off to be examined by cameras, which appeared to be an apparent injury to his quad.
The great man of the Warriors is only a few months away from a left Achilles tear that left him for a year and, for the first time in nine seasons in the NBA, he experienced for the first time a long series of playoffs.
"It's hard, of course," said Stephen Curry. "You feel for him, considering what he's been going through last year. It's a big step, the playoffs. He was eager to see that. I do not know the extent of the injury at this stage. I hope that it will come back sooner than later. From one man to the other, as far as he is concerned, what he has been through, it is difficult, that is certain. There is no sugar at all. You hate to revisit this opportunity on this big stage, far from him, like that. "
Cousins, who have averaged 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds in 30 games this season, are facing another blow that could end his season for the second year in a row.
But warriors also have other problems.
<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Defending champions reduced their lead by 31 points in the third quarter& nbsp; and gave up – for the moment – to the advantage of the home ground after & nbsp;lose 135-131. Now, the series will even go to Los Angeles for match 3 Thursday. "Data-reactid =" 37 "> The defending champions took a 31-point lead in the third quarter and have for the moment given up the advantage of the field after losing 135-131. In Los Angeles for the third match Thursday.
"You love this group," said Clippers coach, Doc Rivers. "They do not give in."
And in a sign of frustration at the turn of the game, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green left the arena without addressing the media.
It was the Warriors' first playoff defeat in the era of stopwatches when they led 15 points or more at half-time. And according to sports bureau Elias, the Clippers have become the second team in NBA history to score 23 points or more at the half and win.
"We are tough guys," Clippers owner Steve Ballmer said after the win. "Physically and mentally, we are tough guys. Damn, I love our guys.
With the physical nature of the Clippers, a team that has no All-Star on the list, it would not be unthinkable that the Warriors drag this series.
Patrick Beverley continues to be physical with Durant, delivering blows to the body of the head and elbows while refusing him the ball. And Durant took a few hard screens, one from JaMychal Green who stung him and made him lean for a few seconds.
To be beaten in an extended series of the first round is not ideal for a championship favorite.
Showzl Harrell, who had 25 points and 10 rebounds on the Clippers' bench, pulled out his JBL Pill speaker after the match in the locker room and played "Clean Up Man" by Willie D of Houston.
These were all smiles and high five of the visiting team on Monday.
"We are definitely a team that does not stop," said Harrell, sitting on the podium, alongside Lou Williams, who had 36 points and 11 assists, a high point in the game. "We compete and play hard every four quarters. I think we did it tonight. When we went down big, we did not bend our heads. We just went up a notch at the back of the defense, we removed what we are supposed to do, we fired hard shots. I just kept playing, I kept playing. "
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