Why is Kevin Durant not playing tonight vs Lakers? Game 3 injury update

Kevin Durant will not feature in Game 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers tonight.

Updated on: Apr 25, 2026, 05:05:31 IST

By Shirin Gupta

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Kevin Durant will not feature in Game 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers tonight. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the star forward has been ruled out due to a left ankle sprain.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 21: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets walks down court against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of Game Two of the NBA Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by RONALD MARTINEZ / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) (Getty Images via AFP)

What happened to Kevin Durant?

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka told Mike Trudell that the injury occurred in Game 2. The swelling worsened after he finished the game. However, he played through it in Game 2.

Charania wrote on X, "String of bad luck for Durant -- tendon bruise suffered in practice that sidelined him for Game 1, now an ankle sprain suffered in Game 2 holding him out following swelling and around-clock treatment -- after being healthy all season.”

Due to a knee injury, Durant was unable to play in the Lakers' opening game of the postseason either. The Rockets were hopeful that Durant would be able to play, although he sustained the injury during practice before Saturday's playoff opener, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

He eventually made a comeback for Game 2, but the Rockets were unable to tie the series and are currently behind 2-0.

Impact on the Rockets vs Lakers series

Durant’s absence significantly alters the dynamics of the series. As one of the league’s most prolific scorers, his presence is central to Houston’s offensive strategy.

The Rockets' prospects of contending for a championship are drastically reduced if Durant sustains an injury. During the regular season, he led the squad in both three-point percentage (41.3) and scoring average, 26.0 points per game.

Amen Thompson and Alperen Şengün will have increased responsibility to carry the offense under Coach Udoka. Trudell reported that Reed Shephard will replace Durant at the start of the game. According to the Bleacher Report, Sheppard's ability to shoot will also be useful if Durant is sidelined for a long time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shirin Gupta
Shirin Gupta is a content producer with the Hindustan Times. She covers everything between politics, entertainment and sports at the US desk. Shirin got interested in political journalism during her time as a web editor at her college newspaper NCC News in Syracuse when she first started seeing the effects of national politics in life of her fellow colleagues. Shirin has worked on a wide range of fast-moving and developing stories locally when she was at NCC editing accessible reports for the audience. Her current role requires her to track real-time updates, verify information and present balanced coverage across diverse beats. Covering US politics from an international newsroom perspective has further deepened her understanding of how domestic decisions can have far-reaching global consequences. With a keen interest in international affairs, Shirin continues to build her expertise in geopolitics, policy shifts, and cross-border developments. She aims to learn and evolve her reporting in matters of geopolitics and international issues. Outside the newsroom Shirin writes about books and music for her personal blog. She is an avid consumer of pop culture and reveres literature.Read More

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