Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins, who tore a left quad muscle in April, will be active Thursday night for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, coach Steve Kerr said.
Kerr also said it was a “longshot” that All-Star Kevin Durant, sidelined with a strained calf, would be cleared for practice before Sunday’s Game 2.
Cousins was on the court at shootaround Thursday morning, getting up shots, in preparation for what would be his NBA Finals debut.
“DeMarcus has done an amazing job,” Kerr said Wednesday. “Coming back from the injury which we felt at the time was season ending. He’s done an incredible job of rebounding, rehabbing. Now, here he is. He’s scrimmaged a couple times this week. He’s pain free.”
When Cousins tore the quad on April 15 in Game 2 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Warriors had anticipated that he would be done for the season.
“I feel good,” Cousins said Wednesday. “My quad is coming along. It’s healed for the most part. Still whipping things into the shape. Building the muscle endurance needed to play at a high level. Everything is coming along well.”