Why Kevin Durant isn't playing for Rockets today vs. Lakers with concerning injury news

The NBA playoffs are officially underway, with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves already completing their first playoff games.

The Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks are currently dueling at Madison Square Garden. The first day of postseason action will conclude after the 8:30 p.m. clash between the Houston Rockers and Los Angeles Lakers comes to an end. 

Unfortunately, for the Rockets, they’ll be without star forward Kevin Durant to kick things off.

“Houston Rockets' Kevin Durant will miss Game 1 against the Lakers tonight due to a right knee injury,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on X/Twitter Saturday. 

Charania’s report is concerning for one primary reason: there’s no timeline for his return to the Rockets’ lineup. If Charania had noted that there was optimism that the two-time NBA champion could be available for Game 2 or 3, there would be a more calming/relieving feeling surrounding the organization. 

However, it’s unclear when Durant will suit up for Houston in the playoffs, which isn’t the type of news the franchise wanted to hear. 

The good news for the Rockets is that the Lakers are dealing with their own injury issues. Luka Doncic (knee injury) and Austin Reaves (oblique injury) aren’t expected to participate in the Lakers’ opening round postseason matchup against the Rockets.

Still, it’s reasonable to assume the Rockets would love nothing more than to add Durant back to the fold and cruise to the Western Conference Semifinals. Time will tell if that winds up being the case.