Full Breakdown
Kevin Durant Out for Game 3 as Rockets Trail Lakers 0-2
4/25/2026, 9:52:02 AM
Injury Update
Kevin Durant was ruled out of Game 3 on Friday, April 24, after a left ankle sprain late in Game 2. Coach Ime Udoka said the ankle was swollen and tender.
Context
The Rockets, fifth seed, lost Game 1 (107-98) and Game 2 (101-94), down 0-2. Durant missed Game 1 with a right-knee contusion, returned for Game 2, then injured his ankle. Lakers, led by LeBron James, are shorthanded (Luka Doncic out, Austin Reaves questionable).
Key Figures
Kevin Durant – Rockets’ leading scorer, 37. Ime Udoka – coach. Starters – Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengün. Their starting five is the second-youngest in NBA playoff history. Lakers – LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard; Austin Reaves (questionable).
Stats
Durant averaged 26.0 pts, 5.5 reb, 4.8 ast. In Game 2 he logged 23 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast, nine turnovers and 1-of-5 shooting after halftime. The Rockets have not reached 100 pts in either loss; Los Angeles shot 46.4 % from three.
Impact
Trailing 0-2, Houston faces a 0-3 hole. Durant supplies scoring, spacing and reliability; his loss forces the young core to generate offense against a Lakers defense double-teaming him. Youth adds energy but lacks a proven scorer.
Official
Staff confirmed swelling and tenderness, leading Udoka to sit Durant. ESPN’s Shams Charania listed him “out.” Lakers announced Austin Reaves as a game-time decision, noting his oblique strain but expecting a return in Game 4.
Criticism
Jabari Smith Jr. emphasized that the team must stay aggressive despite the double-team pressure. Durant later admitted the offense was struggling, noting missed shots and a lack of layups. The Rockets’ reliance on a high-usage player left them vulnerable to the Lakers’ double-team scheme.
Conflicts
Early bulletins listed Durant as “questionable,” later updates confirmed him “out.” Austin Reaves’ status shifted from “out” to “questionable” to “game-time decision,” creating uncertainty for Game 3. No timeline has been given for Durant’s return beyond a game-by-game assessment.
Quotes
- “The Lakers double-teamed Durant relentlessly in Game 2, and he suffered the ankle sprain in the fourth quarter.” — Ime Udoka
- “String of bad luck for Durant — tendon bruise … now an ankle sprain … after being healthy all season.” — Shams Charania
- “When two, three people are on me and I shoot, we can get an offensive rebound… I’ve just got to be more aggressive and look to score no matter where the double team is coming.” — Kevin Durant
- “It makes it difficult, but they’re trying to stop him, and the guys have to be aggressive.” — Jabari Smith Jr.
Future
Game 4 on Sunday, April 26, in Houston. The Rockets will reassess Durant’s ankle after treatment; his availability remains uncertain. The Lakers aim to extend their lead, while Houston hopes its young core can keep the series alive.
