{"id":58963,"date":"2026-04-28T23:22:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T03:22:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/durant-sidelined-again-as-rockets-face-elimination-against-lakers\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T23:22:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T03:22:41","slug":"durant-sidelined-again-as-rockets-face-elimination-against-lakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/durant-sidelined-again-as-rockets-face-elimination-against-lakers\/","title":{"rendered":"Durant Sidelined Again as Rockets Face Elimination Against Lakers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

The Houston Rockets will face another must-win situation without their marquee player, as the team confirmed Tuesday evening that Kevin Durant will be sidelined for Wednesday’s Game 5 matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers.<\/p>

This marks Durant’s fourth absence in the five-game first-round playoff series so far.<\/p>

The veteran All-Star, who has been selected to 16 All-Star teams, was initially held out of Game 1 due to a right knee contusion. He then missed both Games 3 and 4 after suffering a left ankle sprain and bone bruise that failed to improve sufficiently for team medical staff to approve his return for Wednesday’s contest.<\/p>

Durant’s only action in the series came during Game 2, where he contributed 23 points but struggled with ball security, committing nine turnovers in a losing effort.<\/p>

The Lakers have capitalized on Durant’s limited availability, establishing a commanding 3-1 series lead. However, Los Angeles has also battled significant injury concerns, as their top two offensive weapons, Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique), have yet to take the court in this series. Reaves may return for Wednesday’s game.<\/p>

After falling behind 3-0 in the series, Houston staved off elimination with a dominant 115-96 win on Sunday.<\/p>

Durant, now 37 years old, is playing in his 18th NBA campaign. The accomplished forward earned MVP honors in the 2013-14 season, captured four scoring titles, and earned All-NBA recognition 11 times while winning two championship rings. This marks his inaugural season wearing a Rockets uniform.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant will miss his fourth game out of five in the playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers due to ongoing injury issues. The Rockets face elimination Wednesday night as they trail 3-1 in the first-round series.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":58962,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[836],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-58963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777432961608.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-fl1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":57782,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/durant-sidelined-again-as-rockets-face-playoff-sweep-by-lakers\/","url_meta":{"origin":58963,"position":0},"title":"Durant Sidelined Again as Rockets Face Playoff Sweep by Lakers","author":"Admin","date":"April 26, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant will miss his third playoff game due to injury as his team faces elimination against the Los Angeles Lakers. The 37-year-old has been battling ankle and knee injuries throughout the series, which the Rockets trail 0-3.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777250190748.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777250190748.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777250190748.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777250190748.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":58752,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/durants-ankle-injury-casts-doubt-on-game-5-availability-against-lakers\/","url_meta":{"origin":58963,"position":1},"title":"Durant’s Ankle Injury Casts Doubt on Game 5 Availability Against Lakers","author":"Admin","date":"April 28, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant is showing improvement with his left ankle injury but appears unlikely to play in Wednesday's crucial Game 5 against the Lakers. The team is down 3-1 in the series after Durant missed the last two games with a sprained ankle and bone bruise.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777398719257.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777398719257.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777398719257.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777398719257.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":54345,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/durant-sidelined-for-rockets-playoff-opener-against-lakers-due-to-knee-injury\/","url_meta":{"origin":58963,"position":2},"title":"Durant Sidelined for Rockets’ Playoff Opener Against Lakers Due to Knee Injury","author":"Admin","date":"April 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant will miss the team's first playoff game against the Los Angeles Lakers after injuring his right knee during practice. The 37-year-old veteran hurt his knee in an awkward collision Wednesday and couldn't move well enough to play despite no structural damage shown on medical scans.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776565337589.jpg?fit=450%2C309&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":57416,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/rockets-star-durants-ankle-injury-clouds-game-4-availability-against-lakers\/","url_meta":{"origin":58963,"position":3},"title":"Rockets Star Durant’s Ankle Injury Clouds Game 4 Availability Against Lakers","author":"Admin","date":"April 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant remains questionable for Sunday's crucial Game 4 against the Lakers as the team faces playoff elimination. Coach Ime Udoka says Durant is receiving round-the-clock treatment for his sprained left ankle but won't know his availability until game day.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777149476446.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777149476446.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777149476446.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777149476446.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57269,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/lakers-push-rockets-to-brink-of-elimination-with-overtime-victory\/","url_meta":{"origin":58963,"position":4},"title":"Lakers Push Rockets to Brink of Elimination with Overtime Victory","author":"Admin","date":"April 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 112-108 in overtime during Game 3 of their playoff series. LeBron James forced overtime with a clutch three-pointer, while Marcus Smart dominated the extra period to give LA a commanding 3-0 series lead.","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777101749540.jpg?fit=450%2C345&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":53899,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/nba-legends-lebron-james-and-kevin-durant-set-for-fourth-playoff-showdown\/","url_meta":{"origin":58963,"position":5},"title":"NBA Legends LeBron James and Kevin Durant Set for Fourth Playoff Showdown","author":"Admin","date":"April 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Basketball superstars LeBron James and Kevin Durant will face off for the fourth time in playoff history when the Houston Rockets visit the Los Angeles Lakers Saturday night. The Lakers are severely undermanned after losing key players Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to injuries, making Houston the heavy favorite in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776465501151.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776465501151.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776465501151.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1776465501151.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58963","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58963"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58963\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58962"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}