Rockets F Kevin Durant (ankle) out for Game 6 vs. Lakers

The Houston Rockets officially ruled out star forward Kevin Durant for Friday's Game 6 of their Western Conference first-round series against the visiting Los Angeles Lakers.

Durant, a 16-time All-Star and 2013-14 NBA MVP, will miss his fourth consecutive game due to the ankle injury that he sustained on April 21.

The Rockets fell behind 3-0 in the best-of-seven series but have won back-to-back games. Durant has played only 41 minutes in the series -- all in Game 2 -- when he suffered a bone bruise in his left ankle.

If the Rockets take Game 6 on Friday night, Game 7 in Los Angeles would be played Sunday, 12 days after Durant was first hurt.

Durant, 37, averaged 26 points per game in the regular season.