Breaking news came out earlier today that Houston Rockets’ star Kevin Durant is not expected to play in Game 4 of their first round matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. Durant did not play in Game 3 and will most likely be missing his second consecutive game after sustaining a bone bruise in his already sprained ankle. Durant sustained this injury in the second half of Houston’s Game 3 loss on Tuesday and has only been participating in non-basketball team activities.
According to sources that reported to ESPN, the swelling in his ankle formed in the subsequent days from the bone bruise which resulted in more stiffness and lack of mobility in his ankle. If Durant had suffered this same injury in the regular season he would typically be out for two to three weeks but since it is the playoffs, Durant has been constantly monitored in hopes of getting him healthy enough to maybe play in a pivotal elimination game in Houston on Sunday night. The Lakers are up 3-0 in a series that many thought would go to at least six games and maybe even seeing Houston dominate given the amount of injuries the Lakers roster had suffered before the series even began but without Durant the Rockets’ chances of extending this series past Game 5 are in question.
