Kevin Durant cleared, will play in Recreation 2 in opposition to Lakers Tuesday night time
LOS ANGELES — When requested pregame about his staff’s defensive struggles in Recreation 1 in opposition to the Lakers, Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka introduced the subject again round to his staff’s offensive struggles and the way that arrange the protection for failure. Houston scored simply 98 factors on 37.6% taking pictures, falling 0-1 to the Lakers on this first-round collection.
Kevin Durant ought to assist with that. He has been cleared to play in Recreation 2 after lacking Recreation 1 with a knee contusion. He’ll begin, and Udoka mentioned there was no minutes restriction.
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All season lengthy, Durant’s taking pictures and his gravity have opened up what is usually a clunky Rockets offense at occasions. Durant averaged 26 factors a sport this season, taking pictures 41.3% from 3-point vary, plus dispensing 4.3 assists an evening. He is a problem for any protection.
“Properly, he is the fifth main scorer of all time,” Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned of Durant. “He is achieved it at a excessive degree for thus lengthy. He is one of many biggest gamers ever, he is probably the most gifted scorers you’ve got ever seen, and actually only a improbable basketball participant. If he shoots, you’re feeling prefer it’s going each time.”
Durant was annoyed to be out for a fluky factor — he bumped knees with a teammate in apply final week — particularly coming off a season when he missed simply 4 video games, Udoka mentioned. How his knee is feeling and the way it impacts his pictures and motion stay to be seen, however simply having him on the market makes the Rockets that rather more harmful in a Recreation 2 they actually need.
The Lakers shall be with out Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (indirect pressure) once more this sport. Whereas there was some optimistic reporting a couple of potential Reaves return later on this collection, Redick says there isn’t any timeline for both participant to return.
