Rockets Drop Postseason Opener Without Durant

Houston's young stars struggle in Game 1 loss to Lakers

Apr. 20, 2026 at 12:49am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of color, conveying the disjointed nature of the Rockets' offense without their leading scorer.The Rockets' offense sputters without star forward Kevin Durant, leaving the team in an early hole against the Lakers in the opening round of the NBA playoffs.Houston Today

The Houston Rockets suffered a 107-98 loss in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers, with star forward Kevin Durant ruled out just 90 minutes before tip-off due to a knee contusion. Without their leading scorer, the Rockets' offense sputtered as their young players failed to find their rhythm, shooting poorly throughout the game.

Why it matters

The Rockets were counting on Durant's scoring punch to help them overcome the absence of Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves, the Lakers' top two scorers, who were both ruled out indefinitely with injuries. Houston's inability to compensate for Durant's absence in Game 1 puts them in an early hole in the series and raises questions about their depth and ability to win without their superstar.

The details

Durant suffered the knee contusion in practice earlier in the week, with head coach Ime Udoka saying the area was tender and painful, limiting Durant's mobility. In Durant's place, the Rockets started Reed Sheppard, with Tari Eason, Aaron Holiday, and Jae'Sean Tate filling in off the bench. However, Houston's young players struggled mightily, with Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Sheppard all shooting poorly from the field.

  • Durant was ruled out just 90 minutes before tip-off of Game 1.
  • Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday, giving Durant three full days of additional rest.

The players

Kevin Durant

The Rockets' leading scorer, who averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game during the regular season while shooting 52% from the field and 41.3% from three-point range.

Ime Udoka

The Rockets' head coach, who said Durant's knee contusion was limiting his mobility and that the team is hopeful he can return for Game 2.

Reed Sheppard

The Rockets' starting point guard in Durant's absence, who struggled, going 6-for-20 from the field.

Luka Doncic

The Lakers' leading scorer, who was ruled out indefinitely with an injury.

Austin Reeves

The Lakers' second-leading scorer, who was also ruled out indefinitely with an injury.

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What they’re saying

“The bruise suffered by Durant was just above the knee, around the patellar tendon area. Durant banged knees with a teammate in practice, hitting his knee in an awkward spot. His movement was restricted though imagining showed no major structural damage and not much swelling.”

— Ime Udoka, Head Coach

What’s next

Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday, and the Rockets are hopeful that Durant will be able to return to the lineup.

The takeaway

The Rockets' inability to compensate for Durant's absence in Game 1 highlights their lack of depth and the importance of their superstar to their playoff aspirations. If Durant is unable to return or is limited in Game 2, the Rockets may face an uphill battle to overcome the Lakers and advance in the postseason.