Kevin Durant Out for Game 3 vs. Lakers with Injury, Latest Updates on Rockets Star

Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant has been ruled out of Game 3 of his team's first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers due to an ankle injury, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

Rockets coach Ime Udoka explained when the injury occured:

Durant entered the postseason with a knee injury that caused him to miss the Game 1 loss to the Lakers.

ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported Durant suffered the injury in practice leading up to Saturday's playoff opener, but the Rockets were optimistic that he would be able to play.

He ended up returning for Game 2, but the Rockets couldn't even the series and now trail 2-0.

The Rockets have had a fascinating season in which they won 52 games and earned the No. 5 seed in the West. However, they had notable struggles in clutch time and were below-average in games decided by five points or fewer.

Any injury to Durant makes the Rockets' chances of competing for a title significantly lower. He led the team in scoring average (26.0 points per game) and three-point percentage (41.3) during the regular season.

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka will put more of an onus on Amen Thompson and Alperen Şengün to carry the offense. Reed Sheppard's shooting prowess will also come in handy if Durant is limited for an extended period.