Durant Confirmed Out for Game 5, Rockets Fight for Survival as Lakers Hope for Reaves' Return
Kevin Durant is confirmed to miss Game 5 of the NBA playoffs due to injury, leaving the Houston Rockets fighting for their season against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers, meanwhile, are hoping for the return of Austin Reaves.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 13:43
- 🔍 Collected: April 29, 2026 at 14:01 (18 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 29, 2026 at 14:34 (33 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Los Angeles, 28th, comprehensive foreign report) The Houston Rockets will play the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the first round of the NBA playoffs tomorrow. Injured star Kevin Durant will be absent again, leaving the Rockets in a desperate fight to avoid elimination; the Lakers, meanwhile, hope for the return of Austin Reaves.
Agence France-Presse and Reuters reported that the Lakers currently lead the Rockets 3-1 in the best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series. They missed the chance to sweep their opponents in Game 4 on the 26th, allowing the Rockets to win one game.
Kevin Durant, 37, missed the first game due to a knee contusion. He played in Game 2, scoring 23 points, but then sprained his ankle during the game and missed Games 3 and 4. Today, it was confirmed he would continue to rest for Game 5.
The Rockets will strive to become the first team in NBA history to reverse a 0-3 playoff deficit.
The Lakers have not yet deployed their two top scorers, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, in this series, both sidelined by hamstring and oblique muscle strains, respectively. Reaves is expected to return tomorrow.
Reaves, speaking to the media today for the first time since his injury on April 2nd, said: "I want to get back on the court as soon as possible. But like I said, I feel good, my recovery is progressing well, and I can't wait to wake up tomorrow and continue to fight." (Compiled by Lu Ying-tzu) 1150429
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(Central News Agency, Los Angeles, 28th, comprehensive foreign report) The Houston Rockets will play the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the first round of the NBA playoffs tomorrow. Injured star Kevin Durant will be absent again, leaving the Rockets in a desperate fight to avoid elimination; the Lakers, meanwhile, hope for the return of Austin Reaves.
Agence France-Presse and Reuters reported that the Lakers currently lead the Rockets 3-1 in the best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series. They missed the chance to sweep their opponents in Game 4 on the 26th, allowing the Rockets to win one game.
Kevin Durant, 37, missed the first game due to a knee contusion. He played in Game 2, scoring 23 points, but then sprained his ankle during the game and missed Games 3 and 4. Today, it was confirmed he would continue to rest for Game 5.
The Rockets will strive to become the first team in NBA history to reverse a 0-3 playoff deficit.
The Lakers have not yet deployed their two top scorers, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, in this series, both sidelined by hamstring and oblique muscle strains, respectively. Reaves is expected to return tomorrow.
Reaves, speaking to the media today for the first time since his injury on April 2nd, said: "I want to get back on the court as soon as possible. But like I said, I feel good, my recovery is progressing well, and I can't wait to wake up tomorrow and continue to fight." (Compiled by Lu Ying-tzu) 1150429
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship you make is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Without authorization, the text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized.