The Houston Rockets are about to get a Kevin Durant-sized boost for Game 2 of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Durant is reportedly planning to make his series debut on Tuesday in Game 2 after missing the opener due to injury. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Rockets’ medical staff has fully cleared Durant to return from his knee tendon bruise.
Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant has been cleared to return for Game 2 against the Los Angeles Lakers after missing Game 1 due to a knee tendon bruise, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 22, 2026
Durant had made it through half of the Rockets’ practice on Monday and was considered a game-time decision for Game 2. He got the green light just hours before tipoff.
Rockets head coach Ime Udoka shared insight on Durant’s injury before Houston’s 107-98 loss without the former MVP in Game 1. Per Udoka, Durant was previously dealing with “limited movement” in his right knee and not just issues with pain tolerance.
Houston struggled to score without Durant in Game 1, posting a sub-100 total for just the eighth time this season. The Rockets are 0-8 in such contests and are hoping Durant gets them over the century mark at the very least in Game 2. It would be a much better use of his talents compared to the heckler role he played in Game 1.
