Kevin Durant will miss his third playoff game due to a left ankle sprain as the Rockets face elimination against the Lakers. His absence is critical for Houston's chances in the series.
How long is Kevin Durant out? Latest ankle injury updates, return timetable for Rockets star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Houston Rockets have their season on the line on Sunday night, as they are down 3-0 in the first round to the Los Angeles Lakers. To make matters worse, the Rockets' best player will once again be absent from a playoff game.
Star forward Kevin Durant is set to miss his his third game of the series on Sunday night as he continues to rehab from a left ankle sprain. Houston will have to navigate this elimination game without its most experienced and best offensive player.
Here's the latest on Durant's injury.
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After Durant was listed as questionable for Sunday night's Game 4 against the Lakers, ESPN's Shams Charania reports Durant will miss the game. According to Charania, Durant has a "bone bruise in his sprained ankle," which would normally would require him to miss 2-3 weeks of action, and doctors have yet to clear him.
If the Rockets win on Sunday, they will then travel back to Los Angeles for Game 5 on Wednesday. Durant would have two days to try and rehab for a return, but the odds appear to be against him returning soon.
Kevin Durant is currently rehabbing from a left ankle sprain and will miss his third playoff game.
The exact duration of Kevin Durant's absence is not specified, but he is missing crucial playoff games.
Durant's absence significantly weakens the Rockets as they face elimination against the Lakers.
A specific return timetable for Kevin Durant has not been provided as he continues to recover from his injury.
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Durant continued to rehab his left ankle sprain ahead of Game 4, as ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported Durant received "around-the-clock" treatment. Durant was not on the bench in Game 3, although head coach Ime Udoka said Durant was doing work in the underwater treadmill during the game.
However, McMenamin reports that even Rockets players were unsure of Durant's status, as that could mean the team hasn't been checking in on him or that Durant has been primarily rehabbing away from the team.
According to Charania, Durant participated in meetings and film sessions with the team, but he does not have the mobility required to return to action.
Durant suffered a left ankle sprain in Game 2 against the Lakers, which followed a knee contusion that forced him to miss Game 1 of the series. The injury occurred in the fourth quarter of the game and has now forced him to miss both Game 3 and Game 4, his second and third DNPs of the series.
Durant's injury issues have loomed over this series, as the Rockets face a 3-0 deficit and are on the brink of elimination.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
| 4/26 | Game 4: vs. Lakers | 9:30 p.m. | NBC |
| 4/29 | Game 5: @ Lakers* | TBD | TBD |
| 5/1 | Game 6: vs. Lakers* | TBD | TBD |
| 5/3 | Game 7: @ Lakers* | TBD | TBD |
*If necessary*