Warriors say Kevin Durant making 'very good progress,' could return during regular season

Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant could return to game action before the end of the regular season, the team announced Wednesday.

"His eventual return to contact drills and practice will be predicated upon his progress to the increased intensity of his workouts," the team said in a statement.

The most likely comeback window for Durant's return, as long as he remains on his current track, is within Golden State's final three games of the regular season, league sources told ESPN's Marc Stein.

The Warriors announced in a statement that Durant has "made very good progress" in his recovery from a knee injury and will begin doing noncontact basketball drills. The team also plans to "intensify his level of movement over the next several days," according to a statement.

Durant will be re-evaluated in 7-10 days, according to the Warriors.

The Warriors close out their 82-game schedule with home dates April 8 (New Orleans), April 10 (Utah) and April 12 (Los Angeles Lakers). Given the increasing intensity of his daily workouts, which should soon lead to a return to the practice floor, Durant would be on course to make his return in that stretch.

Sources told Stein that Durant is likely to be placed on a minutes restriction when he does return.

But the Warriors have been hopeful since he suffered the injury Feb. 28 in Washington that they can get Durant some game action before the playoffs begin so they don't have to throw him into postseason play cold.