By R. Alexander Núñez
The start of the playoff series between Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers will be marked by relevant absences on both sides. The most recent confirmation is the loss of Kevin Durant for the first match, due to a knee injury that will prevent him from being available at the start of the tie.
The forward suffered a bruise on his right knee during training this week, according to reports. Although it was initially listed as “questionable,” finally he will not be able to play the match. The coaching staff maintains a moderate expectation about his evolution.
The coach Ime Udoka explained the reasons for the absence. “He is very fair, it is difficult for him to bend it in certain positions. He was hit in a very uncomfortable spot. If it had been a licensed blow to the knee, I think he could play, but in the area above the knee, near the patellar tendon, he is very sore,” he said. He also clarified that the problem does not lie solely in the pain: “Pain tolerance is one thing, but the limitation of movement is more the cause of me not playing.”
Medical studies ruled out structural damage, which keeps open the possibility of his return in the next commitments of the series.
A crossing conditioned by injuries and leadership
Durant’s absence adds to the rival’s complications. The Lakers face the start of the playoffs without Luka Dončić, out with a hamstring injury, or Austin Reavesaffected by a problem in the oblique. This scenario leaves LeBron James as the main reference for the Los Angeles team in the attempt to advance to the round.
Houston arrives after a solid licensed season, with a balance of 52 wins and 30 losses. Durant, in his first year with the franchise after his time with the Phoenix Suns and previously with the Brooklyn Nets, has been a key piece with averages of 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, in addition to 52% accuracy in field goals and 41.3% in three-point shots.
Despite the exact injury, the player has maintained continuity in recent seasons, with 75 games played in the 2023-24 campaign and 62 in the following one. In the current 2025-26 season, he had only missed one game due to physical problems.
The first game of the series will be played this Saturday night, while the Houston team hopes to have Durant for the second game, scheduled for Tuesday, as long as the evolution of his knee is favorable.
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