Rockets’ Kevin Durant receives daunting injury update before Game 2 vs Lakers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Houston Rockets superstar forward Kevin Durant received a troubling injury update ahead of Game 2 against the Los Angeles Lakers.
ESPN's Shams Charania said that Durant's status for Game 2 is "up in the air."
"Kevin Durant's status for Game 2 is up in the air," Charania said. "My understanding is Kevin Durant is dealing with a deep bruise in his right patellar tendon...The Rockets they're optimistic that Kevin Durant is gonna be able to return as soon as Game 2 but it remains to be seen."
Durant was a partial participant in practice on Monday. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said the superstar will be a game-time decision.
Before Game 1, Udoka said that he hoped Durant's absence was just a "one-game thing."
After the loss on Saturday, Udoka said nerves may have played a role, considering their young roster.
"There are some things we left on the table," Udoka said. "We didn't do as well as we could have. Opportunities missed. ... At the same time, it felt like we weren't at our best. I don't know if it's a deer-in-the-headlights type thing. We have some young guys out there. They have been out there, not their first time. When you struggle across the board like that, I think some nerves might've been there a little bit."
Durant missed Game 1 of the first round against the Lakers due to a knee injury. The assumption was that the 37-year-old's injury was not a big deal; however, that doesn't appear to be the case as of Monday.
The 16-time All-Star suffered the injury after bumping knees with a teammate during practice last Wednesday before Game 1. Durant was added to the injury report on Friday.
The Rockets struggled against the injury-riddled Lakers in Game 1. They dropped the series opener, 106-97, and will now look to tie the series on Tuesday.
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