Kevin Durant of the Houston Rockets and Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers have both been officially sidelined for Friday's Game 3 of their playoff series. The announcements, made hours before tip-off, solidify the absence of two significant offensive threats for both teams. Durant's status, initially fluctuating, was downgraded to "out" due to a left ankle sprain. Reaves, conversely, experienced an earlier upgrade to "questionable" but ultimately did not clear pre-game assessments for his left oblique muscle strain.
The Rockets, trailing 0-2 in the best-of-seven series, face a daunting task without their star forward, Durant, who also missed Game 1 with a bruised right knee. His return for Game 2 saw him score 23 points in a 101-94 loss, which put the Lakers up by two games. The current ankle issue stems from a tweak during Game 2. Reaves' absence further complicates matters for the Lakers, who are aiming to extend their series lead on the road.
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Houston coach Ime Udoka confirmed that Durant has been dealing with swelling in his left ankle since sustaining the injury midway through the fourth quarter of Game 2. This marks the second game Durant has missed in the postseason, adding to a right knee contusion that kept him out of the series opener. Despite playing extensive minutes during the regular season, the 37-year-old forward's body is showing signs of strain.
The Lakers, meanwhile, continue to navigate multiple player absences. Reaves joins Luka Doncic on the inactive list, both sidelined by strains sustained in the same early April game. Despite these personnel challenges, the Lakers have relied on their defense to control the series thus far. Lakers coach JJ Redick had previously indicated Reaves had begun a return-to-play program, including one-on-one court work.
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Durant’s injury history presents a stark contrast to his recent regular season, where he missed only one game while logging significant playing time. This playoff run, however, has seen him sidelined twice already. The Rockets are now tasked with attempting to turn the series around in Houston without their primary offensive engine, while the Lakers look to capitalize on their opponent's depleted roster.
