HOUSTON — Even after a historic collapse in the final seconds of their most important game of the season, the hot topic around the Houston Rockets this weekend has nothing to do with the players who were on the floor.

Kevin Durant, who was sidelined with a sprained left ankle for the Rockets’ shocking 112-108 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series, has been facing heavy scrutiny for not being on the bench with his teammates on Friday night. The victory gave the Lakers a commanding 3-0 lead in the series, with Game 4 scheduled for Sunday night in Houston.

Durant’s presence probably wouldn’t be enough to prevent Reed Sheppard and Jabari Smith from committing inexplicable turnovers in the final minute of regulation to give the Lakers life, but his leadership on and off the court has been a key part of Houston’s success this season.

When asked about Durant’s absence after the game, Udoka simply said he was getting treatment. But the Rockets coach spoke with reporters again on Saturday after his team held a light practice and expounded on why Durant wasn’t on the bench Friday night.

When asked, Udoka dismissed the criticism Durant has received since the Rockets’ loss and said the star forward was at Toyota Center during the game, running on an underwater treadmill and receiving other specific treatments for his ankle, which led to him not being on the bench.

“He was getting treatment regardless before (the game) and working on some things,” Udoka said. “He was getting in the pool and trying to get some running in and do all those things to prepare (himself). He was back there getting treatment, getting the ice and doing things you can’t do on the bench.”

Udoka said Durant’s status heading into Game 4 on Sunday remains unclear as he continues to work on his ankle. The Rockets coach said Durant has shown steady progress since initially injuring his ankle during Houston’s Game 2 loss in Los Angeles, but the team won’t know for sure if he’s good to go until he completes his workouts on Sunday morning and before the game.

Udoka added that the decision to play Durant or not doesn’t change just because the Rockets are on the brink of elimination. No team in NBA history has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit and won the series.

“He’s getting treatment around the clock. I think there’s some soreness. He pushed a lot of swelling out, but it’ll be a matter of if he can go,” Udoka said. “He’ll try it out tomorrow morning and before the game. Then, we’ll know his status.”

Despite how ugly the end of Game 3 was, Udoka said he took a lot of positives away from his team’s performance and remains optimistic about the Rockets’ ability to bounce back before a win-or-go-home Game 4.

“(We) look at the positives from (Game 3). The way we played the last three quarters, offensively, was good overall. We defended at a high level – great in the second half, specifically,” Udoka said. “You’ve just got to reward yourself with the win. Have the poise down the stretch to not put yourself in some of those situations and show growth in those situations.”