According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Kevin Durant will miss Game 6 of the first-round playoff series between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets are facing elimination with the Lakers holding a 3-2 lead heading into Friday’s game.
“Kevin Durant will be out for Game 6. He is not going to be playing,” Charania said on ESPN.
Durant has only played one game in this series, recording 23 points and six rebounds in a 101-94 loss in Game 2.
Houston had won two straight to pull within one game, but Durant’s absence removes a key variable for the team heading into Game 6. Durant is dealing with a sprain and a bone bruise to his left ankle, which he picked up in Game 2 on April 21.
The minimum recovery time for such an injury is close to two weeks, which means that he could be available for a potential Game 7. Durant, 37, played 78 games for Houston during the regular season, averaging 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.
Alperen Sengun has led the team in Durant’s absence in the first round, recording 21.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg and 5.4 apg. Amen Thompson has also been a key contributor with 19.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 6.2 apg and 2.4 steals.
Kevin Durant draws trade interest amid Houston Rockets’ first-round struggles
The Houston Rockets were considered favorites to advance past the first round of the playoffs, considering they were facing the Los Angeles Lakers without Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic. But the team lost the first three games, leading to murmurs about the core’s future together.
The Ringer’s Michael Pina reported the possibility of Durant being used as a “stepping stone” and traded if the Rockets are eliminated in the first round. He mentioned several teams with reported interest in the forward, including the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and the Lakers.
If a trade does happen this summer, Durant will have played for four different teams in the last six seasons. The forward will be 38 next season with $90 million remaining on his deal.
Read More: Did Kevin Durant Request a Trade After Rockets’ Game 3 Loss? Debunking Viral Tweet
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