Kevin Durant was ruled out before Friday’s Game 3 between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers due to a left ankle sprain. Durant injured himself in Game 2. He was questionable to play and was at the arena before tipoff. However, Durant was nowhere to be found on the bench, leaving many wondering about his whereabouts.
According to Ime Udoka, Durant was receiving treatment for his injury, which led to his absence from the bench.
The Rockets lost the game 112-108 in overtime. They choked in the clutch after leading by six with 40.6 seconds left in regulation. Jabari Smith Jr. threw a careless pass in the Rockets’ court, which Marcus Smart intercepted. As he rose for a 3-pointer, Jae’Sean Tate fouled the Lakers guard. Smart knocked down three free throws to make it a 3-point game.
LeBron James then got a steal on Reed Sheppard in the Rockets’ backcourt and knocked down the game-tying 3-pointer before Alperen Sengun bricked the potential game-winner. Houston couldn’t maintain its run in overtime after fielding its youngest lineup without Durant and now trails the series 3-0 against all odds.
While the Rockets missed Kevin Durant, the Lakers were without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, their two leading scorers, who have combined for nearly 60 points per game this season. Houston still had the likes of Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. and was also an overwhelming favorite to win the series.
Rockets’ fourth quarter issues persist with or without Kevin Durant
While most would pin the blame on Kevin Durant’s injury absence for the Rockets trailing 3-0, the sample size suggests the team hasn’t fared better in his presence, either. Durant turned the ball over nine times in Game 2. Before that, he had 11 turnovers in two games prior to the Rockets and Lakers playing in March.
The fourth quarter has been an issue for the Rockets all year, but especially against Los Angeles. Ime Udoka hasn’t done much to counter JJ Redick’s schemes on both ends and that was again the reason behind Houston’s loss.
