The Los Angeles Lakers announced on Apr. 20 that Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will remain out for Game 2 of their first round playoff series against the Houston Rockets, while Kevin Durant of the Rockets is listed as questionable.
Durant sustained a right knee contusion during a Rockets practice before Game 1, after bumping knees with a teammate. Although he participated in his pre-game routine, he did not play in the Lakers’ 107-98 win. The absence of Durant was felt by the Rockets, whose offense struggled throughout the game as they shot just 37.6 percent from the field and failed to keep pace with Los Angeles’ defense.
Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said after Monday’s practice that Durant is making progress but will be a game-time decision for Tuesday’s contest. Despite being dominant on offensive rebounds with a total of 21, Houston could not overcome its poor shooting performance in Game 1.
Doncic and Reaves are sidelined due to left hamstring and left oblique muscle strains respectively, both classified as Grade 2 injuries which typically require longer recovery times. The Lakers reported no new injuries following their Game 1 victory.
LeBron James contributed significantly by facilitating plays rather than focusing solely on scoring, finishing with eight assists in the first quarter and totaling 19 points, eight rebounds, and thirteen assists overall. Luke Kennard led all scorers with a historic shooting night tallying twenty-seven points. Deandre Ayton added nineteen points and eleven rebounds; Marcus Smart recorded fifteen points and eight assists; Rui Hachimura chipped in fourteen points along with three steals and two blocks—all five starters reached double figures.
Head coach JJ Redick said that Durant’s absence did not alter how his team approached Game 1: “JJ Redick says Kevin Durant injury didn’t affect Lakers’ mindset in Game 1.”
Looking ahead to Game 2, if Durant returns it could shift momentum for Houston; however, maintaining focus remains crucial for Los Angeles.
