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Rockets ‘optimistic’ about Kevin Durant’s injury status before Game 2 vs. Lakers
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- Rockets ‘optimistic’ about Kevin Durant’s injury status before Game 2 vs. Lakers
Rockets ‘optimistic’ about Kevin Durant’s injury status before Game 2 vs. Lakers appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Houston Rockets have been dealt with a surprise injury to start the 2026 NBA Playoffs as they take on the LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers . Superstar forward Kevin Durant was sidelined in Game 1 due to a knee injury, but could be back soon.
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Durant, who has been a model of health this season playing in 78 of Houston’s 82 games this season, was ruled out of Game 1 after suffering a deep bruise in his right patellar tendon at a team practice last week. But the Rockets forward participated in portions of Monday’s practice in Los Angeles and head coach Ime Udoka told reporters in attendance that Durant is a, “game time decision,” for Tuesday night’s Game 2 against the Lakers.
According to ESPN, Durant has a good chance to return in Game 2:
“ Kevin Durant ’s status for game two is up in the air and my understanding is Kevin Durant is dealing with a deep bruise in his right patellar tendon that he suffered last Wednesday during a practice drill when he was chasing after a loose ball and collided that knee with a teammate. That has since caused swelling, pain, it’s impacted his range of motion in the leg as well.
“For Kevin Durant to miss a playoff game that speaks to the severity of the injury in and of itself. The Rockets are optimistic that Kevin Durant is going to be able to return as soon as Game 2, but it remains to be seen just depending on how that knee and that leg responds to this deep bruise in the patellar tendon.
Durant’s 78 games played this season are the most since he played 78 games during the 2018-19 season with the Golden State Warriors . Of his 18 years in the NBA, Durant has only had four seasons in which he played more games, displaying just how healthy the star forward has been this season.
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He averaged 26 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while shooting 52 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from three, leading the Rockets to a52-30 record and the fifth seed in the Western Conference.
At 37 years of age, Kevin Durant finished third in the NBA in minutes per game (36.4), trailing only Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey (38.0) and Houston Rockets teammate Amen Thompson (37.4). When it comes to total minutes played, Durant played the second most at 2,840 behind teammate Amen Thompson.
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