Rockets star Kevin Durant to miss Game 1 of Lakers series
The lanky All-Star forward has a bruised right now that will force him to miss series opener, but coach Ime Udoka doesn't believe it's a long-term problem.
Rockets star Kevin Durant, sharing a laugh with Lakers star LeBron James, will not play in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series because of a bruised right knee. (Alex Slitz / Getty Images) The Lakers aren't the only team beginning the playoffs with an injured star. The Houston Rockets will be without Kevin Durant in Game 1 against the Lakers on Saturday, Houston coach Ime Udoka said, after Durant bumped knees in practice this week.
The fifth-seeded Rockets hope Durant's injury will be a "one-game thing," Udoka said, but the superstar is struggling with soreness and tenderness. Durant was questionable on the injury report because of a bruised right knee and warmed up on the court at Crypto. com Arena on Saturday but "didn't feel good enough," Udoka said.
The Lakers are without their own star power with Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) both out indefinitely. Doncic returned to the United States on Friday after receiving specialized treatment on his injured left hamstring in Spain. Before the game, Doncic had not yet reunited with his teammates, but the Lakers looked forward to getting him back on the sideline.
"He's in good spirits and we're excited to see him today," Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the game. Read more: 'He knows the most': How LeBron James sets the tone for Lakers entering playoffs The Rockets expect to start guard Josh Okogie in Durant's place along with Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr. , Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun.