HOUSTON — Rockets head coach Ime Udoka announced Saturday that superstar Kevin Durant’s condition is improving following his ankle injury, though his availability for Sunday evening’s must-win Game 4 against Los Angeles remains uncertain as Houston attempts to stave off elimination.
The veteran forward was sidelined for Friday’s Game 3 due to a sprained left ankle, during which the Rockets surrendered a six-point advantage in the final 30 seconds of regulation before ultimately falling 112-108 in overtime, putting them down 0-3 in the opening round matchup.
“He’s getting treatment still around the clock,” Udoka explained. “I think there’s some soreness and (he’s) pushed a lot of swelling out, but it’ll be a matter of if he can go. We’ll try it out I’m sure tomorrow morning and before the game, and we’ll know his status then.”
When questioned about the probability of Durant suiting up Sunday as Houston fights to prevent a series sweep in the Western Conference playoffs, Udoka remained cautiously optimistic.
“Every day that goes by, the likelihood goes up,” he stated. “But I thought he might be OK (Friday) based on shootaround and that’s different going half speed and then ramping it up right before a game. And so you really can’t tell, but he’s doing everything he can to get back.”
Durant was absent from the series opener due to a bruised right knee before returning for Game 2, where he contributed 23 points across 41 minutes in the 101-94 defeat. He sustained the ankle injury during the closing moments of that contest.
These playoff injury setbacks follow a season where the 37-year-old veteran logged the second-most minutes in the NBA at 2,840 during regular season play.
The NBA’s fifth all-time leading scorer is completing his inaugural campaign with Houston following an offseason trade from Phoenix.
