New Kevin Durant Injury Update on Rockets Star's Status vs. Lakers for NBA Playoffs Game 2

Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant will return to the court for Game 2 of the NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

Durant missed Game 1 of the series with a knee injury suffered during a collision with a teammate in Wednesday's practice.

The Athletic's Sam Amick reported Durant was visibly frustrated with the injury after taking the court in Los Angeles ahead of Game 1 to test his knee.

Amick reported that "observers said he was not moving well during the session."

"According to several people who watched his routine, his frustration with the brutally-timed situation was impossible to miss," Amick reported.

Amick noted that Durant "was clearly coming to grips with the fact that he'd have to sit this playoff opener out."

The Athletic's Will Guillory shared a video of Durant taking shots on the court before the game.

The Rockets ultimately ruled out Durant before conceding a 107-98 loss to the shorthanded Lakers.

The Athletic initially reported the Rockets hoped Durant would be able to return to the lineup in time for Game 2 on Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

Rockets coach Ime Udoka also told reporters after ruling Durant out that he hoped the star's injury would be "a one game thing."

Udoka added that Durant's availability would hinge on his mobility more than his pain tolerance.

"It's very tender, tough to bend in certain ways. Not a lot of swelling, but hit it in a very awkward spot... right above the knee, patella tendon area, up there, and it's very tender and sore," Udoka said. "Like I said, pain tolerance is one thing, but actually limited movement is more the cause."

Udoka told reporters on Monday that Durant would be a gametime decision:

Reed Sheppard slotted into the Rockets' lineup in place of Durant during Game 1.

The Rockets were unable to find enough offense in Durant's absence as LeBron James and the Lakers held them to 38 percent shooting from the field and 33 percent shooting from deep.

Rockets-Lakers Highlights

01:26

The Lakers are missing two of their own top scorers in Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, who are both sidelined indefinitely by injuries.

James led the Lakers in their absence, but the team also got a Game 1 boost from a playoff career-high 27 points from Luke Kennard.