New Kevin Durant Rumors on Star's Reaction to Injury and Timeline to Return for Rockets vs. Lakers

Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant was visibly frustrated with the knee injury that held him out of his team's playoff-opening loss to the Los Angeles Lakers during a pregame workout Saturday, The Athletic's Sam Amick reported.

Durant took the court in Los Angeles two hours before Saturday night's tip-off to test the right knee he injured following a collision with a teammate in Wednesday's practice, according to Amick.

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.

According to The Athletic, the Rockets hope Durant will be able to return to the lineup in time for Game 2 on Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

Rockets coach Ime Udoka 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."

Reed Sheppard slotted into the Rockets' lineup in place of Durant, who led his team with 26 points per game during the regular season.

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

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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.

The Rockets will need some of their own scorers to similarly step up their game in order to even the series if Durant remains sidelined for Tuesday's Game 2. Tip-off is set for 10:30 p.m. ET.