Advertisement
Just in time

Huge boost for the Warriors as Cousins is passed fit for Game 1 with Raptors

DeMarcus Cousins injured his quad in the first round of the playoffs, but is now pain free after missing the majority of the postseason.

DEMARCUS COUSINS WILL be fit and is likely to feature for the Golden State Warriors against the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

demarcus-cousins-02262019-usnews-getty-ftr_wfnpum40k28l1437v79nov66o Warriors welcome back DeMarcus Cousins.

Cousins suffered a torn left quad muscle last month in only his second career NBA playoff game but recovered quickly enough to help the Warriors in the best-of-seven championship series against the Toronto Raptors.

We have to figure out what’s the best way to utilize him, how many minutes can he play, what the game feels like, what the matchups are like,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

“Some of that will be determined by what’s happening in the game.”

Still sidelined for the Warriors is star forward Kevin Durant, who suffered a right calf strain earlier this month and was already declared out for the opener. Golden State is 5-0 in Durant’s absence, including a sweep of Portland in the Western Conference finals.

Cousins was added by the Warriors last July but a ruptured left Achilles tendon kept him from playing until January.

Cousins then suffered his latest setback as the Warriors began their run to a fifth consecutive final.

“This is the stage every basketball player as a kid growing up dreams of,” Cousins said on Wednesday.

“To be here is a huge honor and it’s an incredible feeling so I’m extremely excited.”

The Warriors are chasing their third consecutive title and fourth in five seasons in the first NBA Finals to be played outside the United States.

The Raptors are in the first finals in their 24-season history, a buzz building around the city about their historic bid to dethrone the NBA’s current dynasty.

“Especially against a team like that, you can’t let games slip away or home court slip away,” Raptors guard danny Green said. “We want to try our best to protect home court, get every game possible.”

Supporters for the Canadian club were lining up seven hours early for prized spots outside Scotiabank Arena simply for the chance to be among thousands watching the game on a giant television screen in a three-block “Jurassic Park” party area.

“Support in the square has been real T.O. (Toronto, Ontario),” the Raptors tweeted Thursday afternoon.

Curry’s Canadian Ties

The Warriors are ready for the passion Canadian fans will bring, Golden State 3-point sharpshooter Stephen Curry said.

“We’ve been here before,” Curry said. “We understand the hoopla and the pandemonium around the finals and how different things are when it comes to just the schedule and the vibe. We’ve seen a lot and we’ll be ready for it. We know the crowd is going to be crazy.”

Curry knows the feeling well. His father retired here after playing for the Raptors and his wife is from the Toronto suburbs.

It’s special,” Curry said. “Back in ’02, I lived here for a couple years, went to school out here. My wife grew up in Markham, right down the street. So a lot of family history.

“To be in the NBA Finals, it’s something I’ve even been looking forward to if they ever made it.”

Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:

Your Voice
Readers Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel