Rockets star Kevin Durant sits out Game 3 vs. Lakers with ankle sprain

HOUSTON -- All-Star forward Kevin Durant sat out Friday’s Game 3 versus the Los Angeles Lakers with a sprained left ankle, which he suffered late in the previous game.

>Ime Udoka, head coach of the Rockets, said pregame that Durant’s ankle had experienced swelling and was still tender, as of earlier in the day.

>Durant was questionable for the first two games of the first-round series with a right knee contusion, sitting out Game 1 before playing in Game 2. The latest injury is to his other leg.

>After missing only one game due to injury in the entire 2025-26 regular season, Durant has now missed two of Houston’s first three postseason games due to injury.

>Game 3 (box score) is of pivotal importance to the Rockets, who enter trailing the best-of-seven series by a 2-0 margin. No team in the history of the NBA playoffs has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit to advance.

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This is likely the play where Kevin Durant tweaked his left ankle -- it happened with 7:18 left in Game 2. He's listed as questionable for Game 3. I would be surprised if he misses the game. pic.twitter.com/MkNlZ9WLMI

— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) April 23, 2026With Durant sidelined, the Rockets started Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun on Friday night. In contrast to the Durant-less Game 1, when the Rockets used Josh Okogie and not Eason alongside those other four starters, it seems Udoka and the Rockets are erring on the side of more offense this time around.

>Houston has yet to break 100 points in a game this series.

>Tipoff between the Rockets and Lakers is at 7:00 p.m. Central, with the game televised and streamed to a national audience via Prime Video.

>On the other side, Austin Reaves (oblique strain) is attempting to return for the Lakers. So, relative to Game 2, Los Angeles could be regaining its second-leading scorer for the season as a whole — just as Houston is losing its top scorer and offensive player in Durant.

class="related-link">More: Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Stream, lineups, injury reports, broadcast (4/24)

>This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets star Kevin Durant sits out Game 3 vs. Lakers with ankle sprain