Kevin Durant Returns to Warriors' Starting Lineup vs. Pelicans After Knee Injury

Superstar Kevin Durant will return to the Golden State Warriors' starting lineup Saturday against the New Orleans Pelicans after a spell on the sidelines due to an MCL sprain, according to the team's public relations department. 

Durant, 28, has been out of action since suffering his injury Feb. 28 two minutes into a game against the Washington Wizards. 

He was leading the team with 25.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game and was averaging 4.8 assists and 1.6 blocks. He was in the conversation for the MVP award and had not only given the Warriors another offensive weapon, but had also evolved into a solid rim-protector.

Head coach Steve Kerr described Durant's talent and ability to score in December, noting, "He falls out of bed and gets 20," per Anthony Slater of the Mercury News:

Golden State felt his absence in a major way. Starting with the Wizards game, the Warriors lost five of seven, though they stabilized after that and have remained atop the standings in the Western Conference with 13 straight wins dating back to March 14. 

Golden State had the luxury of a trio of stars—Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green—to pick up the slack. Adding Durant back into the mix might take a brief adjustment period, but the bigger adjustment will be for the defenses once again tasked with the unenviable chore of trying to slow down the team's efficient, high-scoring offense.

Indeed, expectations for the Warriors will remain the same as they were since Durant signed with the team over the summer now that he's back in action: championship or bust.