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Kevin Durant Cleared to Play in Game 2 Against Lakers

The Rockets star missed Game 1 with a knee tendon bruise but is set to return for the next playoff contest.

Kevin Durant in 2018
Kevin Durant in 2018      Kevin Durant    mark sebastian / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
By Free News Press Editorial Team
Published April 22, 2026 at 4:28 AM PDT

Kevin Durant will be back on the court for Game 2 against the Los Angeles Lakers after being cleared to play following a knee tendon bruise that kept him out of the series opener, ESPN reported Tuesday.

Durant's absence in Game 1 was a significant blow to Houston's chances against Los Angeles. The veteran forward remains the Rockets' most dangerous offensive weapon, and his return reshapes the playoff matchup considerably heading into the next game.

No further details on the severity of the original injury were disclosed, but the team confirmed he passed the necessary evaluations to return to play.

IMG_8226
IMG_8226      Kevin Durant    Tim Shelby from Arlington, VA, US / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)