Rockets rule out Kevin Durant in big Game 5 injury decision vs. Lakers
The Houston Rockets have ruled out Kevin Durant for Game 5 of their NBA Playoffs series against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a left ankle sprain. With the Rockets facing elimination after being down 3-1, head coach Ime Udoka has opted to prioritize Durant's health over immediate playoff success. The team will rely on Alperen Sengun and Tari Eason to lead the offensive and defensive efforts in Durant's absence.
- ▪Kevin Durant has been officially ruled out for Game 5 due to a left ankle sprain.
- ▪Durant has played only one game in the playoffs, scoring 23 points with 58.3% field goal shooting.
- ▪Tari Eason recorded 20 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in Game 4, joining Chris Paul and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only Rockets with such a playoff performance.
- ▪Coach Ime Udoka has chosen not to play Durant in the last two games to protect his long-term health.
- ▪The Rockets are facing a win-or-go-home scenario in Game 5 against the Lakers.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/rockets-rule-kevin-durant-big-011108615.html","headline":"Rockets rule out Kevin Durant in big Game 5 injury decision vs. Lakers","datePublished":"2026-04-29T01:11:08.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-29T01:11:08.000Z","keywords":["Kevin Durant","Houston Rockets","Alperen Sengun","Los Angeles Lakers","Ime Udoka","NBA Playoffs","Adam Wexler","Tari Eason","Chris Paul"],"description":"The Rockets led by Coach Ime Udoka and Alperen Sengun will not have Kevin Durant in Game 5 of their NBA Playoffs series against the Lakers.","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Yahoo…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Yahoo Sports.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Yahoo Sports
