The Houston Rockets will once again be without their star forward Kevin Durant for Game 4 of their first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers, as the veteran continues to battle a lingering ankle injury. It was revealed on Sunday that Durant is currently dealing with a bone bruise in his left ankle, along with a sprain – an issue that has caused “swelling, stiffness and lack of mobility in the ankle,” as per ESPN insider Shams Charania.
The injury has already forced him to miss multiple games and now sidelines him again with Houston facing elimination.
Kevin Durant’s knee issue
Durant’s postseason troubles began even before the series tipped off. He missed Game 1 due to a right knee contusion but returned in Game 2, logging heavy minutes and delivering 23 points, six rebounds, and four assists in a 41-minute outing.
However, that return came at a cost. Durant injured his left ankle late in Game 2 but continued playing through it. The issue worsened afterward, ruling him out for Game 3 and now Game 4 – with further testing revealing the additional bone bruise.
Coach Ime Udoka gives latest update
Speaking ahead of Game 4, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka made it clear that Durant’s availability remained uncertain until the last moment.
“He’s getting treatment still around the clock,” Udoka said. “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 asked about the chances of Durant returning, Udoka added: “Every day that goes by, the likelihood goes up,” he said. “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.”
Rockets on brink of elimination
Houston enters Game 4 trailing 3–0 in the best-of-seven series, putting them on the verge of a sweep. Without Durant, the challenge becomes even steeper against a Lakers side looking to close out the series and advance to the second round.
Game 3 already showed how costly his absence can be – the Rockets blew a late lead before falling 112-108 in overtime.
When could Durant return?
In a typical scenario, a bone bruise like Durant’s can take two to three weeks to heal during the regular season. However, given the playoff urgency, the team has put him on intensive recovery.
Udoka confirmed that Durant is receiving continuous care, raising the possibility of a quicker return – but only if Houston can extend the series.
At this stage, though, his immediate focus remains recovery, with no clear timeline for a comeback as the Rockets fight to keep their season alive.
