OAKLAND, Calif. _ The Warriors are playing in their fifth straight NBA Finals and going for their third straight title and fourth in five years with what many regard as a super team. But that level of sustained excellence has taken a toll on a team that is limping toward the finish line and reeling from key injuries while fighting off a determined challenge from Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors.
Kevin Durant has missed both games of a 1-1 series with a calf injury, and Warriors coach Steve Kerr declared the two-time Finals MVP out of Game 3 Wednesday night at Oracle Arena after he failed to practice on Tuesday. In addition, Kerr said backup center Kevon Looney, who has played a key role, will miss the rest of the series after suffering a fractured collarbone in Game 2, and guard Klay Thompson is questionable after leaving Game 2 with a strained left hamstring.
Starting center DeMarcus Cousins will be playing just his third game since returning from a quad injury, and sixth man Andre Iguodala is nursing a calf injury. That means the Warriors will be more heavily dependent than ever on Steph Curry.
