Kevin Durant Out for Game 5, but Lakers Could Get Austin Reaves Back

The Los Angeles Lakers are one win away from advancing to the Western Conference semifinals against the Golden State Warriors. After allowing the Houston Rockets to stay alive in Game 4, the Lakers hold a 3-1 series lead going into Game 5 on Wednesday.

In addition to being back at Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers have a few more advantages over the Rockets that could help them secure the series victory.

Rockets superstar Kevin Durant is expected to miss Game 5 with a bone bruise on his left sprained ankle. Durant has only played in Game 2 of the series against the Lakers. He missed Game 1 with a right knee injury, then sprained his ankle when he returned in Game 2, causing him to miss Games 3 and 4.

Shams: Kevin Durant (ankle) not expected to play on Wednesday.pic.twitter.com/v1oeIi8Rb5

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) April 28, 2026

Even without Durant in Game 4, the Rockets managed to defeat the Lakers 115-96.

But now, the series is returning to Los Angeles, and the Lakers could be getting back star guard Austin Reaves.

Reaves Is “Optimistic” He Will Play in Game 5

Reaves has missed the entire first-round series against the Rockets with a Grade 2 oblique strain. The Lakers listed him as questionable for Games 3 and 4 before ultimately deciding to keep him off the court during those games.

Reaves has been out for about four weeks. He was initially given a four-to-six week recovery timeline on April 2 but is reportedly ahead of schedule and will be a “game-time decision” for Game 5, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.