HOUSTON — Both Rockets forward Kevin Durant and Lakers guard Austin Reaves were downgraded from questionable to out before Friday’s Game 3 of their teams’ first-round playoff series.
Durant also missed Game 1 because of a bruised right knee. He returned for Game 2 on Tuesday and scored 23 points in 41 minutes of the 101-94 loss that gave the Lakers a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Houston coach Ime Udoka stated Durant has been dealing with swelling in his left ankle since tweaking it during a transition play midway through the fourth quarter of Game 2.
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“We’ve seen the play and found out when it happened. Just played the remainder of the game and obviously adrenaline and was still loose,” Udoka stated. “But afterwards swelled up, some tenderness and got worse over the next day or so.”
Reaves, who has been sidelined with a Grade 2 left oblique strain, warmed up on the court an hour and 15 minutes before tipoff Friday but was ruled out shortly thereafter.
Durant’s injury problems this postseason came after the 37-year-old ranked second in the league in the regular season by playing 2,840 minutes.
Information from The Associated Press was included in this report.