LOS ANGELES — The will be without star for Game 1 of their first-round series against the because of a right knee injury sustained at practice this week, their coach, Ime Udoka, told reporters Saturday.
“He bumped a knee in practice on Wednesday,” Udoka said. “Hopefully it’s a one-game thing but he tried it out just [a] short [time] ago and didn’t feel good enough.”
Game 2 is Tuesday in Los Angeles, which would be nearly a week after Durant suffered the injury.
Durant, 37, led the Rockets with 26 points per game, while also averaging 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists during the regular season.
Udoka said Durant underwent medical imaging on the knee after the injury, which revealed no structural damage.
“It’s very tender, tough to bend certain ways,” Udoka said of Durant’s knee. “He hit it in a very awkward spot, I guess, more than anything. If he had a regular bumped knee, I think he could kind of play through that. But right above the knee, the patellar tendon area, up there, it’s just very tender and sore.
“Pain tolerance is one thing, but actually limited movement is more the cause [of Durant being out].”
With Durant unavailable, Udoka said he would start , , ., and in Game 1.
“We do go nine or 10 deep, depending on who starts for us and we had a rotating fifth starter all year, so I feel very comfortable playing with a certain amount of guys,” Udoka said. “With guys in and out of the lineup at certain times this year, we’ve gone to a lot of different bodies, so I’m very comfortable [with the players available].”
Houston closed the season winning nine out of 10 games to secure the No. 4 seed vs. the No. 5-seeded Lakers. The Lakers will also be missing two of their star players for Game 1 with sidelined with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and out with a Grade 2 left oblique strain.
Doncic flew back to L.A. on Friday after spending the last couple weeks in Europe to receive specialized treatment on his hamstring.
It will be the first game Doncic will be with the Lakers since he suffered the injury April 2 against the . The Lakers finished the season 3-2 in his absence.
“I talked to him yesterday when he landed,” Redick said of Doncic. “He’s in good spirits, and we’re excited to see him today.”
