The Houston Rockets are down 1-0 against the Los Angeles Lakers in their first-round series, and the one player who could flip the script for the Rockets remains a question mark.
Kevin Durant has been listed as a game-time decision for Tuesday night’s Game 2, leaving the Rockets in a position no team wants to be in when down in a series.
Durant injured his knee during a practice last Wednesday. He was added to the injury report with a knee contusion 24 hours before the series opener. Though he attempted a full pre-game workout on Saturday, he ultimately couldn’t play when his teammates needed him most.
Head coach Ime Udoka mentioned that while they hope it’s a short-term issue, Durant didn’t feel right after testing it in practice.
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) reactsTroy Taormina-Imagn Images
And as expected, Houston struggled without him, and the underdog Lakers took every single advantage of his absence.
Luke Kennard scored a career playoff-high 27 points. LeBron James also recorded 19 points and 13 assists to lead the shorthanded team to the convincing 107-98 victory. They barely miss the fireworks of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
According to USA Today’s Ben DuBose of Rockets Wire, there’s a “good chance” Durant returns in Game 2, with hope building that the three days of rest and rehabilitation have moved his knee in the right direction.
But recently, the Athletics‘ Will Guillory reported, “Ime Udoka says Kevin Durant went thru about half of today’s practice. He’ll be a game-time decision tomorrow.”
ESPN’s Shams Charania also said, “My understanding is Kevin Durant is dealing with a deep bruise in his right patellar tendon…The Rockets they’re optimistic that Kevin Durant is gonna be able to return as soon as Game 2 but it remains to be seen.”
KD was an iron man during the regular season, playing 78 games while averaging 26 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. He was highly efficient, shooting 52% from the field and 41.3% from deep.
He often said he is the offense for a Rockets team that has been without starting point guard Fred VanVleet since he tore his ACL in September. Without Durant on the floor, Houston lacks a playmaker who can consistently create high-quality shots.
Whether he can play through this injury is now the biggest question of the series. Meanwhile, Doncic’s return to Lakers practice has created a lot of optimism in the opponent’s community.
Game 2 tips off at 10:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. If Durant is in the lineup, this series will become more interesting.
Related: Lakers Receive Luka Doncic Update Ahead of Game 2 Against Rockets
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.