Charania: Kevin Durant could miss rest of series versus Lakers

Once again, Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant was ruled out of action during the team's first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers. He didn't take the court for Game 4 of the series on Sunday, making it the third contest he has missed in this matchup.

He sat out Game 1 due to a knee contusion, and he has now missed two in a row with a sprained ankle. Even if the Rockets manage to win Game 4 and avoid getting swept, it looks like they may not get Durant back for the remainder of the series.

According to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, the future Hall of Famer now has a bone bruise in that sprained ankle, which could entail missing two to three weeks of game action.

"Houston's Kevin Durant is expected to miss Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN," Charania wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "Durant has a bone bruise in his sprained ankle, which would sideline him 2 to 3 weeks in season. He's had around-the-clock treatment to play but has not been cleared by doctors."

This essentially means that Houston's chances of coming back to win this series, or to even make it competitive, could be slim to none, regardless of how Game 4 turns out. The Lakers have done a remarkable job of overcoming the injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to show tremendous grit, resolve and resourcefulness against a bigger and more athletically gifted Houston roster.

Game 5, if necessary, will take place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Reaves was listed as questionable for Game 3 and Game 4 but was held out of both contests, and the time off before Game 5 could allow him to make his return for that contest, if that contest is needed.