OAKLAND, California: Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant underwent surgery Wednesday for a ruptured right Achilles tendon, confirming the injury and the operation in an Instagram posting.
Durant, averaging 34.2 points a game in the playoffs, suffered the injury in Monday鈥檚 fifth game of the NBA Finals, which the Warriors won 106-105 to pull within 3-2 of Toronto in the best-of-seven series.
It was Durant鈥檚 first game back after missing a month with a right calf strain, the 2017 and 2018 NBA Most Valuable Player having missed nine playoffs games in the span.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 good everybody I wanted to update you all: I did rupture my Achilles. Surgery was today and it was a success, EASY MONEY,鈥� Durant posted.
鈥淢y road back starts now! I got my family and my loved ones by my side and we truly appreciate all the messages and support people have sent our way.鈥�
The news came just minutes after the Warriors finished a workout on the eve of hosting game six of the NBA Finals, hoping to win to force a seventh game Sunday in Toronto as they seek a third consecutive NBA title and fourth in five seasons.
鈥淟ike I said Monday, I鈥檓 hurting deeply, but I鈥檓 OK,鈥� Durant posted. 鈥淏asketball is my biggest love and I wanted to be out there that night because that鈥檚 what I do. I wanted to help my teammates on our quest for the three peat.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just the way things go in this game and I鈥檓 proud I gave it all I physically could, and I鈥檓 proud my brothers got the W.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a journey but I鈥檓 built for this. I鈥檓 a hooper.
鈥淚 know my brothers can get this Game 6, and I will be cheering with Dub Nation while they do it.鈥�