Kevin Durant will not be playing for the Houston Rockets in Game 5.
Houston has declared Durant unavailable for Wednesday’s contest against the Los Angeles Lakers, citing a left ankle ailment that has sidelined him for most of the postseason.
Durant sat out the first game of the series against Los Angeles because of a knee problem, but he came back for Game 2. He managed to put up 20 points in the initial half of that game, only to be held to a mere three points in the latter half as the Lakers staged a comeback victory. Following that, Durant was absent for the subsequent two games due to a left ankle sprain and a bone bruise.
“The bone bruise is, in my opinion, the most problematic aspect of this,” commented head coach Ime Udoka ahead of Game 4. “While all the medical care and recuperation focused on reducing the swelling, the discomfort caused by the bone bruise remains the primary concern and restricts movement.”
Throughout his inaugural season with the Rockets, Durant has achieved averages of 26 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. The veteran, aged 37, was acquired by Houston in a significant trade last summer, subsequently securing a contract extension worth $90 million over two years.
The Lakers, having established a 3-0 advantage in the series, were unable to finalize a sweep on Sunday. The Rockets, propelled by Amen Thompson’s 23 points, maintained the lead through the entirety of the second half in Game 4, securing a dominant 115-96 victory to extend their playoff run. It is, however, a historical fact that no NBA team has ever managed to overcome an 0-3 deficit in a playoff series to emerge victorious.
The Lakers have once more created an opportunity for Austin Reaves to make his comeback. Reaves, currently recuperating from a left oblique muscle strain, holds a questionable status as of Tuesday evening. He conveys an “optimistic” outlook regarding his participation in the game, having sat out the Lakers’ final five regular season matchups and the initial four playoff encounters.
Should the Lakers manage to clinch the series on Wednesday evening at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, they would officially advance beyond the first round of the playoffs for the first time since the year 2023.
