Rockets' Kevin Durant practices, will be game-time decision for Game 2 vs. Lakers

Atlantic76ersCelticsKnicksNetsRaptorsCentralBucksBullsCavaliersPacersPistonsSoutheastHawksHeatHornetsMagicWizardsSouthwestGrizzliesMavericksPelicansRocketsSpursNorthwestJazzNuggetsThunderTimberwolvesTrail BlazersPacificClippersKingsLakersSunsWarriorsScores & ScheduleStandingsThe Bounce NewsletterNBA DraftPodcastsFantasyNBA OddsNBA PicksFirst-Round PredictionsHollinger's Playoff PreviewThe Bucks' Season From HellPlayer Poll: Who Will Win Title?NBA Playoffs Kevin Durant bumped knees with a teammate last week and missed Game 1 against the Lakers as a result. Christian Petersen / Getty Images Share articleLOS ANGELES — Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant was a partial participant in his team’s practice on Monday, and Rockets coach Ime Udoka said Durant is considered a game-time decision going into Game 2 of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers. When media members were allowed into Rockets practice on Monday, Durant appeared to have tape and a bandage on the right knee that forced him to miss Houston’s 107-98 loss to the Lakers in Game 1. Durant appeared to be in good spirits as he put up shots with his teammates after practice, and he moved around the court fairly well as he went through drills. On Saturday, Durant was clearly limited as he tried to go through his pregame warm-up, which played a major role in his sitting out. Although a final decision on Durant’s status won’t be made until Tuesday, there appears to be some optimism that the Rockets’ leading scorer will be back for Game 2. “He went through about half of the (practice),” Udoka said Monday. “I would say mobility probably (is most important). The pain tolerance is one thing, but actually moving and feeling comfortable doing all the movements is going to be the biggest thing.” The 37-year-old Durant was a surprising late scratch before Game 1 on Saturday after he bumped knees with a teammate at a practice in Houston on Wednesday. Udoka said Durant was hit in the area right above his knee. Without Durant, the Rockets’ offensive execution cratered against a Lakers team that was also short-handed, with Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) both sidelined indefinitely. The Rockets were held to 98 points and shot 37.6 percent from the field Saturday. They finished with 27 more field goal attempts than Los Angeles, largely due to offensive rebounds and turnovers, yet still failed to put any scare into the Lakers in the fourth quarter. The hope for the Rockets is that getting Durant back on the court will solve a lot of their offensive issues from Game 1 and give them a great opportunity to even the series at 1-1 before heading back to Houston for the next two games. “(We need to) play with more pace. Not be as stagnant against their switching,” Udoka said. “We did a lot of things well. We won a lot of areas. But our efficiency and, I think, our shot creation and our shot quality can be a lot better.” In Durant’s first season in Houston, he averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists. He appeared in 78 regular-season games, his most since the 2018-19 season. Much of the conversation heading into this series was about another potential postseason matchup between Durant and Lakers star LeBron James. Houston is hoping those two will finally get to go toe-to-toe in Game 2. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms