Kevin Durant expected to miss Game 4 as Rockets face elimination against LeBron James and Lakers: report

The Houston Rockets will beryllium without 1 of their All-Stars arsenic they look a imaginable expanse to nan Los Angeles Lakers connected Sunday night.

Kevin Durant is not expected to suit up for nan Rockets successful Game 4 of nan team’s first information bid pinch nan Lakers, according to ESPN.

Durant is sitting retired his 2nd consecutive crippled aft suffering a sprained near ankle. He was besides diagnosed pinch a bony bruise successful his ankle, further testing revealed.

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Kevin Durant of nan Houston Rockets reacts during a crippled against nan Oklahoma City Thunder astatine Toyota Center successful Houston, Texas, connected Jan. 15, 2026. (Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)

This wounded is usually a two-to-three-week betterment timeline, ESPN added aft speaking pinch sources. Houston has tried "around-the-clock treatment" for Durant conscionable to get him connected nan court, but doctors haven’t cleared him to play.

Durant’s injury occurred during nan 2nd half of nan Game 2 nonaccomplishment Tuesday to nan Lakers, 101-94. Durant was slow to get disconnected nan court, and swelling occurred successful nan pursuing days, forcing him to miss Game 3.

After discovering nan bony bruise, nan Rockets understood why Durant had further swelling and stiffness successful nan ankle compared to a regular sprain, per ESPN.

Still, Durant is helping his teammates successful nan movie room, arsenic they reviewed their play against nan Lakers up of a win-or-go-home script connected Sunday night. Durant was besides astatine nan Rockets’ installation get his curen done.

Houston Rockets C Alperen Sengun and helping Kevin Durant beryllium connected nan chair against nan Los Angeles Lakers during Game 1 of nan first information of nan 2026 NBA Playoffs astatine Crypto.com Arena. (Kirby Lee (Imagn Images))

While Durant had been patient passim his first twelvemonth pinch nan Rockets, this postseason has been a disaster frankincense far. He missed Game 1 owed to a correct knee contusion suffered successful practice. It was described arsenic a "tender" bruise successful an "awkward spot" supra his knee, which severely constricted his expertise to move.

The Lakers went connected to triumph Game 1, 107-98, but Durant was capable to suit up for Game 2. However, aft pouring successful 7 of his 12 jumpers and 8 of his 9 free throws for 23 points successful 41 minutes, his wounded came precocious successful nan 2nd half, and he hasn’t seen nan tribunal since.

Meanwhile, LeBron James, playing without his cardinal teammates Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves frankincense acold successful this series, has been starring nan measurement for Los Angeles to a stunning 3-0 commencement successful this series.

Houston Rockets guardant Kevin Durant looks connected during overtime against nan Philadelphia 76ers astatine Xfinity Mobile Arena successful Philadelphia, Pa., connected Jan. 22, 2026. (Bill Streicher/Imagn Images)

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The Lakers are hoping they won’t person to return to Los Angeles for a Game 5 successful this series, which would let everyone, including those injured connected their bench, to get correct for nan adjacent bid if they tin get nan occupation done connected Sunday night.

Houston will erstwhile again look to players for illustration Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Şengün to support nan play alive.

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