Rockets star Kevin Durant (ankle) ruled out for Game 3 vs. Lakers
Apr 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) looks on from the court in the second half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant is set to miss his second game of the Western Conference first-round playoff series against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Less than 90 minutes before tipoff of Game 3 on Friday night in Houston, the Rockets ruled out Durant due to a left ankle sprain. He had been considered questionable.
The Rockets enter the game already in a 2-0 series hole.
Durant missed Game 1 after reportedly bumping knees with a teammate in practice and coming away with a bruised tendon. He returned for Game 2 on Tuesday and played 41 minutes, putting up 23 points, six rebounds and four assists but committing nine turnovers.
The Lakers won 101-94, and Durant suffered his ankle sprain during the course of that game.
In his first campaign with Houston, Durant, 37, had his healthiest season in seven years. He played 78 of a possible 82 regular-season games, matching his total from 2018-19 with the Golden State Warriors.
If the Lakers beat the short-handed Rockets on Friday, Houston will be on the verge of getting swept when the teams reconvened for Game 4 on Sunday.
--Field Level Media
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