Game 2 preview: Will Warriors" Kevin Durant play vs. Blazers?

Stephen Curry talks about playing without Kevin Durant for Game 2 vs Trail Blazers

Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle

Kevin Durant (35) high-fives fans after an NBA playoffs game between the Golden State Warriors and the Portland Trailblazers in Oakland, California, on Sunday, April 16, 2017.Golden State Warriors defeated the Portland Trailblazers 121-109. less Kevin Durant (35) high-fives fans after an NBA playoffs game between the Golden State Warriors and the Portland Trailblazers in Oakland, California, on Sunday, April 16, 2017.Golden State Warriors defeated the ... more Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle

Game 2 preview: Will Warriors Kevin Durant play vs. Blazers?

Warriors vs. Trail Blazers

Game 2, first round

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland

Coaches: Steve Kerr, 3rd season with Warriors (207-39 with Warriors and overall); Terry Stotts, 5th season with Blazers (223-187 with Blazers and 338-355 overall)

On air: TV on TNT, NBC Sports Bay Area; Radio on 95.7 The Game

Records: Warriors (67-15, 1-0); Blazers (41-41, 0-1)

Projected starters: Warriors: PG Stephen Curry (29.0 ppg, 4.0 apg), SG Klay Thompson (15.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg), SF Kevin Durant (32.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg), PF Draymond Green (19.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 9.0 apg), C Zaza Pachulia (4.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg)

Blazers: PG Damian Lillard (34.0 ppg, 3.0 apg), SG C.J. McCollum (41.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg), SF Evan Turner (12.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg), PF Maurice Harkless (11.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg), C Noah Vonleh (2.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg)

Warriors injury report: SF Matt Barnes (right ankle sprain), SF Kevin Durant (left calf strain) and PG Shaun Livingston (right index finger sprain) are questionable. SF Kevon Looney (left hip strain) is out.

Blazers injury report: C Jusuf Nurkic (right leg), PF Ed Davis (left shoulder) and C Festus Ezeli (left knee) are out.

Betting line: Warriors by 13.5 points

Things to watch:

>> Will Kevin Durant play? The eight-time All-Stars official designation of questionable suggests that he has a 50 percent chance of playing in Game 2. After re-evaluating him during shoot-around Wednesday, the Warriors training staff will determine whether he should be available. Odds are that, if Durant is even experiencing slight pain, he will sit. Ensuring he is healthy for the rest of the playoffs is far more important than Wednesdays result. If Durant is ruled out, itll be intriguing to see who fills his minutes. Matt Barnes and Shaun Livingston are also qestionable, and Kevon Looney is out.

>> Will Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum get any help? Portlands backcourt duo did all that could be expected of them in Game 1, totaling 75 points on 28-for-54 (51.6 percent) shooting. As for their teammates? They mustered a combined 34 points on 12-for-39 (30.1 percent) shooting. It is no surprise that, when Lillard and McCollum began to tire in the fourth quarter, the Warriors ran away for a convincing win. With Jusuf Nurkic ruled out again, a supporting cast that includes Allen Crabbe, Evan Turner, Maurice Harkless and Al-Farouq Aminu will need to shoulder a heavier load Wednesday for the Blazers to have a shot at stealing the victory.

>> Can Klay Thompson bounce back from a rough Game 1? One of the few warts in Sundays win over the Blazers was the three-time All-Stars performance. In addition to going 6-for-16 from the field and 1-for-6 from three-point range, Thompson struggled against Lillard and McCollum. No one is immune from the occasional off outing. But with Durants status in flux, the Warriors surely hope Thompson returns to form Wednesday. Golden State is a lethal matchup when both Thompson and Stephen Curry are thriving.

Quotable: Anybody whos going through that, you feel bad because everyone wants to play especially this time of year, when it matters the most. Theres no kind of sugar-coating that at all. It sucks to miss playoff games and not be out there with your teammates. - stephen curry on kevin durants calf injury

Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com . Twitter: @Con_Chron

Source: http://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/Game-2-preview-Will-Warriors-Kevin-Durant-11082845.php