Kevin Durant Targeted To Return From Knee Injury on Saturday’s game against Pelicans

(Credit: Noah Graham/NBAE)

The Golden State Warriors are targeting Saturday, April 8th for Kevin Durant's first game back from his knee injury according to ESPN’s Marc Stein. The Warriors will play the New Orleans Pelicans that night with the playoffs one week away. 

Durant suffered a bone bruise and an MCL sprain back on March 3, and the Warriors took a severe downturn in the ensuing weeks. But they have since won 11 straight and looked more like their 2016 selves than ever, taking control of the 1-seed in the Western Conference and securing wins over the Spurs, Rockets and Wizards. 

Durant is averaging 25 points on 54 percent shooting for the Warriors, who lead the league in offensive efficiency this season. 

There's no question the Warriors are a better team when Durant is on the court. According to NBA.com, the team has a 15.2 net rating per 100 possessions with Durant compared to an 8.4 net rating without him.

However, Durant's absence has been a blessing in the sense it forced Stephen Curry to play a bigger role. In 59 games prior to Durant's injury, Curry was averaging 24.8 points on 46.6 percent shooting, including 40.4 percent from three-point range. In his last 16 games, Curry is scoring 26.5 points a night, and his field-goal and three-point percentages have improved slightly to 46.8 and 40.6 percent, respectively.

Assuming Durant is back to 100 percent in time for the playoffs, the Warriors will be considered the NBA title favorites, especially with Curry back to his old self.