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Dave McMenaminApr 19, 2026, 09:39 AM<\/p>\n
Close<\/a>Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN. Multiple Authors<\/p>\n LOS ANGELES — The Houston Rockets<\/a> will be without star Kevin Durant<\/a> for Game 1 of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> because of a right knee injury sustained at practice this week, Rockets coach Ime Udoka told reporters Saturday.<\/p>\n “He bumped a knee in practice on Wednesday,” Udoka said. “Hopefully, it’s a one-game thing, but he tried it out just [a] short [time] ago and didn’t feel good enough.”<\/p>\n Game 2 is in Los Angeles on Tuesday, which would be nearly a week after Durant suffered the injury.<\/p>\n Durant, 37, averaged a team-high 26 points per game, and added 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists during the regular season.<\/p>\n Udoka said Durant underwent medical imaging on the knee after the injury, and no structural damage was revealed.<\/p>\n Editor’s Picks “It’s very tender, tough to bend certain ways,” Udoka said of Durant’s knee. “He hit it in a very awkward spot, I guess, more than anything. If he had a regular bumped knee, I think he could kind of play through that. But right above the knee, the patellar tendon area, up there, it’s just very tender and sore.<\/p>\n “Pain tolerance is one thing, but actually limited movement is more the cause [of Durant being out].”<\/p>\n With Durant unavailable, Udoka said he would start Reed Sheppard<\/a>, Josh Okogie<\/a>, Jabari Smith Jr<\/a>., Amen Thompson<\/a> and Alperen Sengun<\/a> in Game 1.<\/p>\n “We do go nine or 10 deep, depending on who starts for us, and we had a rotating fifth starter all year, so I feel very comfortable playing with a certain amount of guys,” Udoka said. “With guys in and out of the lineup at certain times this year, we’ve gone to a lot of different bodies, so I’m very comfortable [with the players available].”<\/p>\n Houston closed the season by winning nine out of 10 games to secure the No. 5 seed vs. the No. 4-seeded Lakers. The Lakers will also be missing two of their star players for Game 1. Luka Doncic<\/a> is sidelined because of a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, and Austin Reaves<\/a> is out because of a Grade 2 left oblique strain.<\/p>\n Doncic flew back to L.A. on Friday after spending the past couple of weeks in Europe to receive specialized treatment on his hamstring.<\/p>\n
\nCovered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/r1645790_1296x1296_1-1.jpg&w=130&h=130&scale=crop&location=center.jpeg\")
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