The Houston Rockets will be without their biggest star, Kevin Durant, for Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, dealing a major blow to their hopes of staying alive in the postseason.
Durant has been sidelined with a left ankle sprain and did not travel at full fitness, having missed practice on Tuesday before the team departed for California. Although he was spotted doing light conditioning work, including running on an anti-gravity treadmill, he was not cleared to return to action. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka indicated that the forward remains under close evaluation.
“We’ll see,” Udoka said when asked about Durant’s availability. “It is day-to-day, game-to-game. But we’ll have to get on the court and do some things, and he didn’t participate in practice today. But he’s doing the conditioning and other aspects to try to get back.”
Houston currently trails the series 3-1, making Game 5 a must-win situation. Despite Durant’s absence, the Rockets showed resilience in Game 4, securing a convincing 115-96 victory to keep their playoff hopes alive. However, the challenge now intensifies as they head to Los Angeles without their leading figure.
Durant’s postseason has been disrupted by multiple injuries. The 37-year-old initially missed the series opener due to a bruised right knee. He returned in Game 2, contributing 23 points in a 101-94 defeat, but suffered the ankle injury late in that contest. Since then, he has been unavailable, missing three consecutive games at a critical stage.
His absence is particularly significant given his importance to the team. In his debut season with Houston following an offseason move from the Phoenix Suns, Durant has remained a central figure. Despite his age, he ranked second in the league for total minutes played during the regular season, underlining his durability and influence prior to the playoffs.
Widely regarded as one of the game’s greatest scorers, Durant currently stands as the fifth-leading scorer in NBA history. Without him, the Rockets face an uphill battle against a strong Lakers side, needing another collective effort to extend their season.
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