The Houston Rockets will be playing for their season when they take the court for Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.
After dropping the first three games of the series, the Rockets are on the brink of elimination, so they’ll need all the help they can get.
Unfortunately for Houston, star forward Kevin Durant’s status for the critical game is a bit of a question mark.
Ime Udoka Says Kevin Durant’s Status is ‘Up in the Air’ for Game 4 vs. Lakers
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 16: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets reacts during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Toyota Center on March 16, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
Durant has been hampered by injury issues throughout the series against L.A. He missed the first game of the series due to a knee contusion that he suffered in practice and was listed as questionable for the second game with the injury before ultimately being cleared to play. Then, he was ruled out of Game 3 due to an ankle injury that he sustained in Game 2.
Durant is still dealing with the ankle injury, and he is listed as “questionable” on the official injury report for Game 4.
“Up in the air,” Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said of Durant’s status for Game 4. “I think we made some progress in the last few days, but we’ll see how that [goes] with only one day in between.
“He’s getting treatment still around the clock,” Udoka added. “I think there’s some soreness and [he’s] pushed a lot of swelling out, but it’ll be a matter of if he can go. … And so you really can’t tell, but he’s doing everything he can to get back.”
The Rockets will probably need Durant to play if they want to have any hope of extending the series, although Durant didn’t perform particularly well in the one game that he has played in the series so far.
Kevin Durant Struggled in the Only Game He’s Played in the Series so Far
Durant had 23 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in Game 2, but he also had nine turnovers as he struggled with consistent double teams sent in his direction by the Lakers. Afterwards, he discussed the difficulty of operating against multiple defenders.
“It’s hard to get into our actions,” Durant said. “We’re used to teams playing pick-and-roll or maybe trapping me or playing in the drop. But they’re switching, and then just running a guy at me at the half(-court line) or at the 3-point line, or wherever I’m at, to double.”
Durant vowed to be more aggressive attacking the double teams moving forward in the series, but he didn’t get an opportunity to do so in Game 3.
“When two, three people are on me and I shoot, we can get an offensive rebound. … I’ve got to shoot more of those and put my teammates in better position,” Durant said. “I’ve just got to be more aggressive and look to score no matter where the double team is coming. … We’ve played this team before, and they know the way for them to stay in the game is to play this type of defense. We’ve got to make them pay.”
Durant will have a chance to increase his aggression in Game 4, if he plays.
Rockets’ Ime Udoka Provides Update on Kevin Durant’s Status for Game 4 vs. Lakers