'Sickening': Outrage over 'disgraceful' moment after Kevin Durant injury
Toronto fans have caused outrage in Game 5 of the NBA Finals after cheering Kevin Durant’s devastating injury setback.
The Golden State Warriors star made a shock return to the line-up on Tuesday after being sidelined with a strained right calf since last month.
However things went horribly wrong in the second quarter when Durant limped off the court after aggravating the injury.
KD appeared to step on Serge Ibaka’s foot and went down in immediate pain.
Raptors fans reacted by cheering and waving goodbye as he sat on the floor holding his calf.
Warriors teammate Klay Thompson could be seen angrily gesturing at the crowd to stop, as did some Raptors players.
Credit to a number of Raptors players who quickly signaled for the crowd to not cheer after Kevin Durant's calf injury in the second quarter. All showed great respect for the Warriors' forward. #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/XnVmEJmdHX
— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) June 11, 2019
The vitriol was flying thick and fast on social media over the ‘disgraceful’ and ‘sickening’ scenes.
Regardless of who you cheering for, it’s tough to see Durant go down like that!!
Fans cheering during an injury is sickening. #NBAFinals— Emmanuel Acho (@thEMANacho) June 11, 2019
Some Toronto fans started cheering as Kevin Durant left the floor with an injury. Sickening. pic.twitter.com/XbSwlWWdYy
— OMGsportsClips (@OMGsportsClips) June 11, 2019
So Durant has possibly torn his achilles and some fan in the front row is cheering and waving goodbye. Just sad. pic.twitter.com/vftUTPF60e
— Marcus (@MrRuh3) June 11, 2019
To all the Raptors fans cheering Durant's injury, that's disgraceful.
— Brian Witt (@Wittnessed) June 11, 2019
Disgraceful cheering for Durant’s injury. Smdh
— TEENANGER (@teenangerTO) June 11, 2019
wtf did they really cheer when durant started limping
— Morgan🍃 (@EgggQueeen) June 11, 2019
I don't like him, but man I feel so bad for Durant. And shame on Raptors fans in the building for cheering an injury
— Joseph Nammour (@jnammour24) June 11, 2019
Toronto fans seriously cheering for Durant getting hurt. What a disgrace. Honestly don’t think Philly fans would’ve even cheered for that smh
— KM (@Kommon_KURTesy) June 11, 2019
Toronto fans cheering and waving bye to Durant after he got hurt again is a disgrace. There were a lot of them doing it too, not just a few. Show some class. Your team has plenty of it.
— Chris Karpman (@ChrisKarpman) June 11, 2019
Cheering for Durant because he is injured is a disgrace. Come on Canada and Raptor fans we are better than that. Get some class
— Allan Hordal (@siselallan) June 11, 2019
Durant and the Warriors, facing elimination if they lose to the Raptors in Game 5 in Toronto, started strongly.
Durant hit his first three three-pointers and had 11 points in 11 minutes before disaster struck.
Horror return
The Warriors said Durant would not return to the game and an MRI was scheduled Tuesday to determine the severity of the injury.
Durant shouted an expletive as he left the floor, his frustration obvious.
Durant had been cleared by the Warriors' medical staff after Game 4, and participated in both a practice session Sunday and a shootaround practice earlier Monday.
The Warriors had said throughout his month-long absence that they did not want him back on the floor until he was right, for fear of this exact scenario — Durant aggravating the injury and having no chance of returning this season.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before the game that Durant had "responded well" to the practices.
"He's going to play," Kerr said.
Warriors send it to Game 6
The Warriors survived without their star to force a Game 6, with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson carrying the load to secure a 106-105 victory.
The Raptors rallied in the fourth quarter, but the Warriors hit back every Toronto blow and got big shots down the stretch to keep their championship hopes alive.
with agencies