Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant cleared for Game 2 against LA Lakers
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant has been cleared to return for Game 2 of their playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers after recovering from a knee tendon bruise.
The 37-year-old sustained the injury during a practice session on Wednesday, forcing him to miss the opening fixture.
His absence was acutely felt as Houston suffered a 107-98 defeat in Game 1.
The Texas franchise shot below 40% from the field despite attempting 27 more shots than their Californian opponents.
No minutes restriction for returning star
Head coach Ime Udoka confirmed the veteran scorer will not face a restricted workload upon his return to the court.
The former MVP was observed participating in shooting drills shortly before the upcoming encounter.
However, Udoka cautioned earlier in the week that mobility remains the primary hurdle for his marquee player.
“The pain tolerance is one thing, but actually moving and feeling comfortable doing all the movements is going to be the biggest thing,” Udoka stated.
Offensive boost for trailing Houston
Reintegrating the prolific forward is a significant boost for a side struggling to find their offensive rhythm.
He averaged a team-high 26 points per game throughout the regular season.
Houston will now rely heavily on his elite shot-making abilities to level the series against Los Angeles.
