Kevin Durant of the Rockets sidelined for Game 1 against the Lakers due to knee injury.
LOS ANGELES — The Houston Rockets will be missing their star player Kevin Durant for Game 1 of their first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a right knee injury incurred during practice this week, as reported by their coach, Ime Udoka, on Saturday.
“He bumped his knee during practice on Wednesday,” Udoka stated. “We hope it’s just a one-game issue, but he tested it out just [a] short [time] ago and didn’t feel well enough.”
Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday in Los Angeles, which will be nearly a week after Durant sustained the injury.
Durant, 37, led the Rockets with an average of 26 points per game, along with 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists throughout the regular season.
Udoka mentioned that Durant underwent medical imaging on his knee following the injury, which showed no structural damage.
“It’s quite tender, and bending it in certain ways is challenging,” Udoka remarked regarding Durant’s knee. “He impacted it in a rather awkward area, more than anything else. If it were a typical bumped knee, I believe he could manage to play through that. However, right above the knee, in the patellar tendon region, it’s just very tender and painful.
“While pain tolerance is one aspect, the actual limitation in movement is the primary reason [for Durant’s absence].”
With Durant out, Udoka indicated that he would start Reed Sheppard, Josh Okogie, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, and Alperen Sengun in Game 1.
“We can go nine or 10 deep, depending on who starts for us, and we had a rotating fifth starter throughout the year, so I feel quite comfortable utilizing a certain number of players,” Udoka noted. “With players coming in and out of the lineup at various times this season, we’ve utilized many different individuals, so I’m very at ease [with the available players].”
Houston concluded the season by winning nine out of their last 10 games, securing the No. 4 seed against the No. 5-seeded Lakers. The Lakers will also be without two of their key players for Game 1, as Luka Doncic is sidelined with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and Austin Reaves is out due to a Grade 2 left oblique strain.
Doncic returned to L.A. on Friday after spending the previous weeks in Europe to receive specialized treatment for his hamstring.
This will be the first game Doncic will be with the Lakers since he sustained the injury on April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers concluded the season with a 3-2 record in his absence.
“I spoke with him yesterday when he arrived,” Redick said regarding Doncic. “He’s in good spirits, and we’re looking forward to seeing him today.”
