Rockets rule Kevin Durant out for Game 1 against Lakers with knee contusion
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The Houston Rockets will open their first-round playoff series without Kevin Durant. Head coach Ime Udoka said Saturday that the 37-year-old forward will miss Game 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers because of a right knee contusion suffered during Wednesday’s practice.
“He bumped a knee in practice on Wednesday,” Udoka told reporters before the team’s workout in Los Angeles. “Hopefully it’s a one-game thing, but he tried it out a short time ago and didn’t feel good enough.”
Durant underwent imaging that showed no structural damage, but the area above the patellar tendon remains “very tender and sore,” the coach said. “Pain tolerance is one thing, but limited movement is more the cause,” Udoka added.
Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena, nearly a week after the injury occurred.
Rockets adjust starting lineup
With Durant sidelined, Houston will start Reed Sheppard, Josh Okogie, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson and Alperen Şengün in Sunday’s opener. Udoka noted that the Rockets regularly used a rotating fifth starter during the regular season and are comfortable going nine or 10 deep.
Durant led Houston with 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game while guiding the club to nine wins in its final 10 contests and the Western Conference’s No. 4 seed.
Lakers also shorthanded
The fifth-seeded Lakers will be without Luka Doncic (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique strain) for Game 1. Doncic, who was injured April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, returned to Los Angeles on Friday after receiving specialized treatment in Europe. Head coach JJ Redick said the All-Star guard is “in good spirits.” Los Angeles went 3-2 in his absence to close the regular season.
The series tips off Sunday night in Los Angeles.
Source: ESPN.com
