Kevin Durant returns in Game 2 vs. Lakers, but Rockets still lose

If the Houston Rockets can't win with a healthy Kevin Durant, their first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference playoffs could be a short one. 

The forward returned to the lineup in Game 2 in Los Angeles on Tuesday night after missing Game 1 because of a knee injury. Durant coming back provided a jolt for the Rockets, but they still couldn't avoid falling to 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. 

Other Rockets failed to step up again in loss to Lakers 

Durant scored 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting during Houston's 101-94 loss to L.A. The forward began to slow in the second half as the Lakers defense exerted more pressure, leading him to finish with nine turnovers. No other Rocket taking the offensive initiative only compounded his problems. 

Aside from Durant, none of Houston's other players scored 23 points or more. Rockets center Alperen Sengun scored the second-most points (20) on the team but shot 9-of-20 from the field. 

Defensively, Houston failed to stop Lakers forward LeBron James, Durant's longtime friend and rival. The 41-year-old scored 28 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had seven assists. 

And, somehow, the Rockets haven't figured out how to shut down Lakers guard Luke Kennard. He scored 23 points, shooting 8-of-13 from the field. Through two games in the series, Kennard has averaged 25 points per game after logging 8.4 PPG during the regular season.

With the Rockets not improving that much with Durant back in the lineup, that only gives the Lakers more momentum as they begin to get healthier. Guard Luka Doncic (hamstring) isn't expected to return for the series, but guard Austin Reaves (oblique) may. He has reportedly started one-on-one court work.

But the series may be over by the time Reaves is ready to return. Momentum is on L.A.'s side heading into Game 3 in Houston on Friday (8 p.m. ET, Prime Video). And with the Rockets having yet to win a game, even when their best player is in the lineup and playing at a high level, that increases their chances of an early postseason exit.