Rockets' Kevin Durant out for G1 vs. Lakers with knee injury

Key Points:

• Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant will miss Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a right knee injury sustained in practice, with no structural damage found but significant tenderness limiting his movement.
• Durant, who averaged 26 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists during the regular season, is hopeful to return by Game 2, scheduled nearly a week after the injury.
• Without Durant, Rockets coach Ime Udoka plans to start Reed Sheppard, Josh Okogie, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, and Alperen Sengun, expressing confidence in the team's depth despite lineup changes.
• The Lakers will also be missing stars Luka Doncic, sidelined with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, and Austin Reaves, out with a Grade 2 left oblique strain, for Game 1; Doncic recently returned to Los Angeles for treatment and will join the team for the first time since his injury.
• The Rockets secured the No. 4 seed after finishing the season strong, winning nine of their last ten games, while the Lakers hold the No. 5 seed and went 3-2 without Doncic in the final stretch.