Rockets Coach Addresses Unfortunate Kevin Durant News

Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Rockets Coach Addresses Unfortunate Kevin Durant News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Apr 26, 2026 9:05 PM ET

The Houston Rockets have their backs against the wall on Sunday in Game 4 of their first-round NBA playoffs series against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Rockets are down 3-0 in the series and are on the brink of elimination. A loss on Sunday will mark the end of what has been a memorable campaign for this young squad.

Unfortunately for the Rockets, they will be without Kevin Durant on Sunday. The former NBA MVP suffered an ankle injury in Game 2, which forced him to sit out Game 3 on Friday.

Durant was not able to recover in time and has been ruled out for Game 4.

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant.Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Durant also missed Game 1 of this series due to a knee tendon bruise. He returned for Game 2, but he ended up tweaking his ankle during the loss.

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka spoke to the media ahead of Game 4. The 48-year-old coach addressed the unfortunate news about Durant.

“I think the bone bruise is the worst part about it,” Udoka said. “Like I said, they did all the treatment and rehab and pushed the swelling out, but the pain from the bone bruise is the main thing, and limited mobility.”

“The pain from the bone bruise is the main thing, and limited mobility” - Ime Udoka on what ultimately kept Kevin Durant out of tonight’s Game 4 pic.twitter.com/AVsDzn7XR8
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 26, 2026

No team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit in NBA playoff history. The Rockets have a gargantuan task ahead of them. They will now need a miracle, especially with Durant missing Game 4.

Houston has no other choice but to take this one game at a time. They may be down, but they are not out just yet.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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