Rockets Star Kevin Durant To Miss Game 1 Of Lakers Series

The Lakers aren’t nan only squad opening nan playoffs pinch an injured star.

The Houston Rockets will beryllium without Kevin Durant successful Game 1 against nan Lakers connected Saturday, Houston coach Ime Udoka said, aft Durant bumped knees successful believe this week.

The fifth-seeded Rockets dream Durant’s wounded will beryllium a “one-game thing,” Udoka said, but nan superstar is struggling pinch soreness and tenderness. Durant was questionable connected nan wounded study because of a bruised correct knee and warmed up connected nan tribunal astatine Crypto.com Arena connected Saturday and “didn’t consciousness bully enough,” Udoka said.

The Lakers are without their ain prima powerfulness pinch Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) some retired indefinitely. Doncic returned to nan United States connected Friday aft receiving specialized curen connected his injured near hamstring successful Spain. Before nan game, Doncic had not yet reunited pinch his teammates, but nan Lakers looked guardant to getting him backmost connected nan sideline.

“He’s successful bully spirits and we’re excited to spot him today,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said earlier nan game.

The Rockets expect to commencement defender Josh Okogie successful Durant’s spot on pinch Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun. Udoka expects that nan gait will prime up without Durant connected nan court, particularly pinch Sheppard and Thompson starring nan offense.

“We do play faster pinch those guys,” Udoka said. “Amen evidently pushes nan gait but Reed’s a really bully footwear up feline and our wings get retired and run, and disconnected ball, evidently little isolation and station ups for Kevin.”

The Lakers vanished nan regular play pinch 3 consecutive wins to bent onto home-court advantage successful nan first round. The Rockets won 9 of their past 10 games.