Kevin Durant has been ruled out for Game 5 of the Rockets’ first-round series against the Lakers on Wednesday, Law Murray of The Athletic tweets.
Durant has only appeared in one game during the series. The star forward missed the last two games due to a left ankle sprain and bone bruise and didn’t participate in practice with the Rockets on Tuesday before they left for California, according to Kristie Rieken of The Associated Press. He was seen running on an anti-gravity treadmill.
Coach Ime Udoka provided an update on Durant, who missed Game 1 with a right knee injury, before the team headed out.
“We’ll see,” Udoka said. “It is day to day, game to game. But we’ll have to get on the court and do some things, and he didn’t participate in practice today. But he’s doing the conditioning and other aspects to try to get back.”
Durant scored 23 points in 41 minutes during the team’s Game 2 loss. In Game 4, Tari Eason supplied 20 points, eight rebounds and five steals in place of Durant as Houston staved off elimination.
On the Lakers’ side, Austin Reaves is listed as questionable. He hasn’t played in the series due to a left oblique muscle strain but is reportedly optimistic about returning for Game 5.
Durant is such a trooper. You know if he was able he would play.
But you know what, I say no more trading for 35+ year-old guys. So done with that. They start breaking down and you’re asking for trouble if you’re relying on these guys to be your main producers, especially come playoff time after a long season.
I don’t blame Houston for doing the deal with Phoenix because they needed scoring, but it seems like when playoff time arrives, these guys are so nicked up that they’re not often available.
He’s a minus for the team decelopment. Classic case of taking minutes and major role from the young players.
Gary, all the numbers back you up, but watch all the NBA GM’s make the same stupid decision over and again this off-season…
The numbers show that the absolute worst move any GM can make is sign a player 32 years or over to a long-term deal. It may work out, but the odds are against you, and the worst outcome the most common.
Kahwi, Lillard, Paul George, Butler, Kyrie Irving are all examples of being too unavailable to earn their money, sinking their teams in the process. Newly-minted mid-30’s Anthony Davis is up next.
LeBron is the ONLY aging player to earn his money every season. With the last 13 months, even Steph Curry has not.
It will go on. We hear the Warriors have tried to acquire Kahwi. Somebody will roll the dice on Anthony Davis. Giannis is another broken-down body entering his mid-30’s, but he’s certain to sign a 5 year deal that will, eventually break his team’s heart.
But … Reaves and Doncic are MUCH younger than 35, as is Haliburton, Moody, Anthony Edwards and quite a number of other players who are hurt.
Yes, Mike it’s crazy the number of injuries happening now. Guys are laid up with hammy‘s, and calf strains pretty often and seems like more than in the past? Quite the mystery.
Gary: AAU
Guys bodies are practically toast by the time they get to the nba.
If they were required to play at least 3 years in college, many of them (and their bodies) wouldn’t even make it to the nba.
Look at FRESHMAN Peterson (Kansas) this year…
Doncic is always banged up by the playoffs, and fluke injuries like Moody’s and Ant’s landing wrong aren’t age-related.
This is the 1st time I’ve noticed you posting here, have I just missed your other comments?
(FYI, I’m nba is the worst, the sanitized screen name version)
> fluke injuries like Moody’s and Ant’s landing wrong aren’t
> age-related.
@NBAisOK, with all due respect, that’s distinctly untrue. It’s a matter of probablilities, and youth wins over age.
The demands of the game are the same at all ages, but the young body (think softer, more elastic tendons) is more able to withstand them than the older body (think less elastic and hardened tendons) makes the younger athlete less likely to suffer injury from them.
As well, the accumulation of injuries over a career makes injury to a collateral joint more likely. Pro athletes are “expert compensators”, enabling them to work around less capable joints, but the burden placed on collateral functions increases likelihood of failure there.
@KezarMike, that’s exactly the logical fallacy: “It’s just bad luck that our older players are all injured. Even young players can get injured,”.
The point isn’t that younger players don’t also get injured, but that OLDER PLAYERS ARE MORE INJURED.
It’s a fact that in every major team sport the average players’ availability declines steadily at 30 years old, just as incidence of severe injuries accelerate even faster through the 30’s.
The stats show that 35 year old player is ~3x more likely to suffer a season-ending injury than a 25 year old player.
Because of the CBA, older stars get bigger contracts than younger players. When availability is factored in, older players on max deals contribute dramatically less per dollar than players in their 20’s on long-term contracts.
He’s played his last game with Houston.
Yup
Sacramento with Russ? They can trade for Harden and reunite the Big 3.
Team USA Kevin Durant – big fan.
Houston Rocket burner account high af Kevin Durant – not a fan.
Rafael Stone. You’re on the clock.
Vibes are way off with this Rockets team.
This is pathetic. He sat out the first game with a knee bruise, immediately takes a completely different injury, and just quits. I wouldn’t be surprised if he could play but is just choosing not to. He’s good pals with LeUnc (showed up on his podcast to glaze him) and he clearly hates his own team. What a loser.
Is he even with the team in LA? Will he be courtside (unlike in game 3)?
KD. Useless.
Already out for game 6