The Houston Rockets thought they had an easy first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. However, losing Kevin Durant for Game 1 evened the odds against a Lakers team without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
Here’s everything you need to know heading into Tuesday’s pivotal Game 2 clash.
What is Kevin Durant’s Status for Game 2 of Lakers-Rockets?
Durant is currently dealing with a right knee contusion sustained in practice. According to The Athletic’s Will Guillory, he is a game-time decision for Game 2.
Rockets’ Kevin Durant practices, will be game-time decision for Game 2 vs. Lakers https://t.co/qXXAJRVxsu via
— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) April 20, 2026
Even before that update, USA Today’s Ben DuBose confirmed on ClutchFans that there’s optimism that the 16-time All-Star will be back for Game 2.
“KD, from what I’ve heard, there’s a good chance he could return in Game 2,” DuBose said. “There’s hope that Kevin Durant can return by Game 2, which is on Tuesday night.”
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This is a critical Game 2 for the Rockets. Being down 1-0 to the Lakers without Dončić and Reaves is a bad enough look, but they could also let a golden chance to move on in what’s been a down year slip away, which they can’t afford to do for more reasons than meet the eye.
Durant is 37 years old and is still among the NBA’s best players. Though he’s not in peak form like he was during his time in Oklahoma City and Golden State, Durant is still capable of scoring 30-plus points on any given night, but how much longer he can do that is really up in the air at this point.
Without Fred VanVleet (knee) and Steven Adams (ankle), the Rockets’ work is already cut out for them, but to really let the Western Conference know that their injuries haven’t gotten them down, they need Durant back and to beat the Lakers in the first round.
Even if Durant does come back for Game 2, another question will be whether he will be at full strength. Typically, most players are battling through nagging injuries during the playoffs, but play anyway. Durant is playing through something that kept him out of a playoff game, so even if it’s not serious enough to keep him out for an entire series, it’s serious enough to wonder how it will affect his mobility.
Regardless, the only way the Rockets have a chance, even against a heavily undermanned Lakers team, is for Durant to suit up.
It really is unfortunate for Houston that it has had so much bad luck since trading for Durant last summer. At this stage of his career, the veteran probably shouldn’t even be relied on as a centerpiece, but that’s what he still is, and his presence could determine this series.
