National Basketball Association

Thunder's Durant leaves game vs. Warriors with ankle injury

Published Dec. 19, 2014 12:24 a.m. ET

foxsports

Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant did not return for the second half against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night after twisting his right ankle.

The Thunder said Durant had a mild right ankle sprain.

The reigning NBA MVP grabbed his ankle after stepping on Marreese Speights' left foot while going hard to basket late in the second quarter. Durant was called for a charge on the play.

Durant lay on the ground in pain before walking to the bench with the help of teammates Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka. Durant limped to the locker room at the half under his own power.

Durant came back Dec. 2 after missing the team's first 17 games with a broken right foot, and his latest injury ended his best performance yet this season.

Durant scored 30 points on 10-for-13 shooting, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range. It was his highest scoring game this season and the highest scoring first half of his career.

Oklahoma City started the season 3-12 with Durant and Westbrook dealing with injuries but had been rediscovering its championship-contender form with both healthy again.

The Thunder had won seven straight entering the game, which was the longest active streak in the league after Memphis snapped Golden State's 16-game winning streak Tuesday night. Oklahoma City began the day 7-1 since Durant came back and 8-1 since the return of Westbrook, who sat out 13 games with a broken bone in his right hand.