Durant Misses Game 1 vs Lakers After Knee Injury in Practice — What It Means for the Series

Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant is set to return from a knee injury for Game 2 of the team’s first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers, according to reports from CBS Sports Headlines on April 22, 2026.

Durant missed Game 1 of the series after sustaining a right knee injury during practice on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Rockets coach Ime Udoka confirmed the absence, stating that Durant “bumped a knee in practice on Wednesday” and “tried it out just [a] short [time] ago and didn’t feel good enough.” Udoka described the injury as occurring “in a very awkward spot” above the patellar tendon area, noting that while imaging revealed no structural damage, Durant’s knee remained “very tender and tough to bend in certain ways.”

The Rockets proceeded without Durant in Game 1, starting Reed Sheppard, Josh Okogie, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, and Alperen Sengun in his place. Despite Durant’s absence and the Lakers also being without scoring champion Luka Doncic and guard Austin Reaves, Los Angeles secured a Game 1 victory to take an early 1-0 series lead.

Durant, who averaged a team-high 26 points per game during the regular season, has missed only four games all year due to injury. Udoka expressed hope that the knee issue would be a short-term problem, saying, “Hopefully it’s a one game thing,” while acknowledging uncertainty about Durant’s availability beyond Game 1.

As of the April 22 update, Durant is expected to rejoin the Rockets’ lineup for Game 2, which is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles on Tuesday. His potential return could significantly impact Houston’s offensive capabilities as they seek to even the series after dropping the opening contest.