Kevin Durant's Mobility Is the Real Problem, and the Rockets Can't Afford to Wait Much Longer

Kevin Durant is a game-time call for Game 2 against the Lakers on Tuesday night, and honestly, this is the last thing Houston needed right now. The Rockets' star took a knee bruise in practice last Wednesday and sat out Game 1, a 107-98 loss that felt way worse than the score suggests. Coach Ime Udoka put Durant through about half of Monday's practice, which tells you everything about how cautious they're being with their 37-year-old bucket getter.

The Injury Isn't as Bad as It Could Be, But There's a Problem

Here's the good news: imaging came back clean. No structural damage to the knee. Udoka called it "hopefully a one-game thing" before Game 1, so the Rockets dodged a major bullet there. But here's the catch, and it's a big one. Pain tolerance isn't the issue anymore. It's movement. Udoka was real about it on Monday: "The pain tolerance is one thing, but actually moving and feeling comfortable doing all the movements is going to be the biggest thing." Translation: KD can probably handle the discomfort, but his mobility is still compromised. In a playoff series, that's a problem you can't ignore.

Houston Felt Durant's Absence in a Bad Way

The Rockets shot under 40% from the field in Game 1 and still heaved up 27 more shots than the Lakers. That's not a recipe for winning. Durant averaged a team-high 26 points per game during the regular season, and his shotmaking was sorely missed. Los Angeles took Game 1 at home, and now the Rockets head to Game 2 at 10:30 p.m. ET Tuesday night with their best player still uncertain. Getting Durant back on the court would change everything about this series, but only if he can actually move like himself.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.