{"id":265783,"date":"2026-04-25T10:52:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T10:52:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/265783\/"},"modified":"2026-04-25T10:52:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T10:52:17","slug":"rockets-make-historic-game-3-lineup-vs-lakers-with-kevin-durant-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/265783\/","title":{"rendered":"Rockets make historic Game 3 lineup vs. Lakers with Kevin Durant out"},"content":{"rendered":"

With Kevin Durant out for Game 3, the Rockets will rely on Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun \u2014 the second-youngest starting lineup in NBA playoff history.<\/p>\n

The Houston Rockets will have all their hands on deck against the Los Angeles Lakers for Game 3 of their first-round NBA Playoff series.<\/p>\n

\t\tHouston Rockets \/ Schedule<\/p>\n

As announced, Kevin Durant will not be joining<\/a> the team for Friday’s game due to a left ankle sprain. The superstar forward, who missed the series’ opening match with a right knee bone bruise, sustained the ankle injury in Houston’s past Game 2 loss on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

With Durant out, the Rockets have made a significant lineup adjustment in going up against the Lakers, starting Reed Sheppard to join Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun.<\/p>\n

According to Shams Charania of ESPN<\/a>, this would be the second-youngest starting five in any game of the NBA Playoffs, with an average age of 22.6 years old.\u00a0<\/p>\n

All have been drafted and landed by Houston throughout the past couple of NBA Drafts.<\/p>\n

The late great Bill Walton and his title-winning 1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers team still holds the record for the youngest playoff lineup in the modern era.<\/p>\n

Right now, the Rockets can only hope that their youthful core can pull off and take the must-win Game 3 against the Lakers to keep their season alive.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

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