The Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets have released their preliminary injury reports for Game 4 on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. PT in Houston. Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique strain) and Kevin Durant (left ankle sprain) are both listed as questionable to play. <\/p>\n
Reaves has yet to play in this series and has been out since April 2 with the oblique injury. His initial timeline was 4-6 weeks, but is on pace to beat that with an unexpectedly quick recovery. If he returns for Game 4 on Sunday, that would mean he was out for fewer than four weeks. Reaves went through his pre-game warmups<\/a> for Game 3 before ultimately sitting. <\/p>\n Durant, meanwhile, has had more of a mysterious run of injuries this postseason. He reportedly bumped knees with a Rockets player at practice prior to the start of the series, causing him to miss Game 1. He returned for Game 2, but suffered the ankle sprain at some point during the game, causing him to miss Game 3 as well. <\/p>\n The Lakers will continue to be without Luka Doncic, who suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain on April 2, the same day as Reaves\u2019 injury. He was also given a 4-6 week timeline, but seems to be holding closer to form on that. <\/p>\n The Rockets will continue to be without Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams, as well. VanVleet suffered a preseason knee injury, and Adams a midseason knee injury. Both were vital to the Rockets\u2019 identity, and their absence has been notable in this series. <\/p>\n The Lakers hold a 3-0 series lead and are one win away from securing their place in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. They were heavy underdogs in this series, but have combined team-wide hustle and massive leaps forward from role players like Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard and Rui Hachimura behind LeBron James to take control of the series. <\/p>\n Game 4 tips Sunday at 6:30 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock. <\/p>\n JJ Redick praises Smart and James for big-time plays in Lakers win <\/p>\n The Lakers barely escaped Game 3 with a victory after trailing by six points with under 30 seconds to go in regulation. Smart forced a turnover and hit three free throws, then James forced another turnover and drilled a game-tying three. Head coach JJ Redick praised them<\/a> for their effort. <\/p>\n \u201cThey both made big-time plays,\u201d Redick said after Saturday\u2019s 112-108 win. \u201cBefore the game, at halftime, we\u2019ve talked for the last 10-plus days just about elevating everything and this was our first road playoff game and you have to elevate your poise, you have to elevate your composure, recognizing that there\u2019s gonna be moments where the crowd is going crazy.<\/p>\n \u201cYou get down, they make a run, whatever it may be, we weathered a lot tonight. There were a lot of turnovers, but I thought our defense was fantastic. And then in that moment just to keep playing. Smart made a huge play to get us into a one-possession game and then coming out of that timeout, for them we wanted to get a trap. Rui and Bron did a good job putting pressure on Sheppard and then we made the steal and \u2018Bron hits a big-time shot.\u201d<\/p>\n