Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant. (David Zalubowski/AP)

Kevin Durant optimistic he’ll play in Game 3 vs. Blazers

OAKLAND, Calif. — Kevin Durant said he felt ready to play in Golden State’s Game 2 playoff win a day earlier yet the Warriors opted to be cautious with their superstar as he nurses a strained left calf.

Durant posted an update about his injury during a livestream on his personal YouTube channel Thursday evening. He is hopeful of playing in Saturday’s Game 3 at Portland as the Warriors try to take a 3-0 lead in the series, though coach Steve Kerr said being up two games could affect any decision.

"I miss being out there with them and hopefully I’m out there the next game. Speaking of that, I have a little calf injury," Durant said, showing his left calf wrapped with blue tape . "Unfortunate that I pulled my calf in Game 1 in the third quarter. It felt good to finish the game but afterward it tightened up on me a little bit and I was sore for the next few days." Read More Here

Cavaliers overcome 26-point deficit to take 3-0 lead over Pacers

INDIANAPOLIS — LeBron James celebrated another milestone with the greatest second-half comeback in playoff history.

Win one more at Indiana, the four-time MVP will be crowned king of the first round.

James scored 41 points while padding his post-season resume with yet another triple-double, leading defending champion Cleveland back from a 25-point halftime deficit to a 119-114 victory over the Pacers on Thursday night.

"We knew we had to take (some) punches, but it was a flurry, more than we expected," James said. "At halftime, I was just looking at the guys and telling them ‘Let’s get a couple stops."’

Officially, it will go down as the third-largest comeback in playoff history. But the largest halftime deficit overcome previously was 21 points, by Baltimore against Philadelphia in 1948.

As for James, he keeps moving up in the record books, too.

He scored 28 in the second half and finished with 13 rebounds and 12 assists, moving past Kobe Bryant and into third on the NBA’s playoff scoring list. Bryant had 5,640 points; James now has 5,669.

James also won his 20th consecutive first-round game, matching a feat achieved by three other former Lakers — Michael Cooper, Magic Johnson and James Worthy. Win Sunday, and he’ll have the longest first-round winning streak under the current playoff format, which began in 1984. Read More Here

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Kevin Durant optimistic he’ll play in Game 3 vs. Blazers, Cavaliers overcome 26-point deficit to take 3-0 lead over Pacers

Kevin Durant optimistic he’ll play in Game 3 vs. Blazers

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