NBA: Rockets not expecting Kevin Durant to play in Game 6 – report

The Houston Rockets will attempt to force a Game 7 without Kevin Durant, who remains sidelined due to a left ankle injury. Despite being down 3-0 in the series, the Rockets have bounced back with two consecutive wins.

FIELD LEVEL MEDIA / Reuters

May 1, 2026

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) drives to the basket, defended by Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) during Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on April 21, 2026.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Reuters

If the Houston Rockets manage to force a Game 7 in their best-of-seven playoff series with the Los Angeles Lakers, they will have to do so without Kevin Durant.

Reports confirm that Durant will miss his fourth consecutive game and will not be available for Friday’s Game 6 in Houston. The Rockets, down 3-0 in the series, have mounted a comeback with two straight wins. Durant, however, has played only 41 minutes in the series—all in Game 2—when he sustained a bone bruise to his left ankle.

ESPN has reported that Durant is expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks as he recovers from the injury, which he sustained on April 21.

If the Rockets win Game 6 on Friday, a potential Game 7 would take place on Sunday in Los Angeles, 12 days after Durant was initially injured.

Durant, 37, had been averaging 26 points per game during the regular season.

-Field Level Media/Reuters