The Golden State Warriors are bracing for the possibility that All-Star forward Kevin Durant could be lost for the rest of the regular season – or perhaps longer – with a left knee injury, league sources told The Vertical.

Durant underwent an MRI late Tuesday night to survey the knee damage, and team officials and members of Durant’s inner circle were expressing fear early Wednesday morning that the severity of Durant’s injury could preclude a return to the Warriors’ lineup until before the start of the Western Conference playoffs in six weeks, league sources told The Vertical.

Some close to Durant feared the damage could sideline him even longer, league sources said.

Golden State and members of Kevin Durant’s inner circle are fearful that the knee injury he suffered Tuesday could keep him out until the start of the playoffs, and maybe longer. (Getty) More

Nevertheless, doctors were evaluating the test results, and the Warriors are expected to make a public announcement later Wednesday.

Durant suffered what the Warriors termed a hyperextended left knee in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s loss to the Washington Wizards. Golden State center Zaza Pachulia lost his balance and fell into Durant’s left knee.

Durant – a four-time NBA scoring champion – has been the Warriors’ top scorer this season, averaging 25.8 points per game. He signed a free-agent deal with Golden State in July, leaving Oklahoma City after spending nine years with the organization that drafted him. Golden State has the NBA’s best record at 50-10.

Durant signed a two-year deal that included a player option that he’s expected to exercise to become a free agent again in July. Durant has consistently indicated that he expects to re-sign on a longer-term deal with Golden State this summer.

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