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Entering February, in his age-37 season, Rockets star Kevin Durant had yet to miss a single game due to injury.
But that changed Monday night, when the newly named 2026 All-Star sat out in Indiana due to a left ankle sprain. The injury occurred during Houston’s win over Dallas on Saturday, and Durant continued to play through it at that time.
“Durant stepped on a fan’s foot on the sideline on Saturday,” Space City Home Network’s Vanessa Richardson reported from Indianapolis.
Ime Udoka, head coach of the Rockets, relayed that message to reporters as part of Houston’s pregame press conference.
“He played through it, but it ended up swelling,” Richardson wrote in paraphrasing Udoka’s comments. “The Rockets hope it is just a one-game absence.”
In Durant’s absence, second-year guard Reed Sheppard started against the Pacers alongside the four usual starters of Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, and Tari Eason.
Houston (30-17, No. 4 in Western Conference) enters February with wins in seven of its last nine games, and the Durant-less Rockets are hoping to build on that momentum in Monday’s matchup against the last-place Pacers (13-36).
Tipoff of Rockets-Pacers is at 6:00 p.m. Central, and the game is being televised regionally on Space City Home Network and nationally via NBA League Pass.
Next after that is a visit from Boston on Wednesday night — and since Durant has yet to be ruled out for that game, all indications are that his sprain is relatively minor.
More: 2026 NBA All-Star announcements: Kevin Durant in, Alperen Sengun out
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets star Kevin Durant to miss at least one game with ankle sprain
Continue reading...
But that changed Monday night, when the newly named 2026 All-Star sat out in Indiana due to a left ankle sprain. The injury occurred during Houston’s win over Dallas on Saturday, and Durant continued to play through it at that time.
“Durant stepped on a fan’s foot on the sideline on Saturday,” Space City Home Network’s Vanessa Richardson reported from Indianapolis.
Ime Udoka, head coach of the Rockets, relayed that message to reporters as part of Houston’s pregame press conference.
“He played through it, but it ended up swelling,” Richardson wrote in paraphrasing Udoka’s comments. “The Rockets hope it is just a one-game absence.”
In Durant’s absence, second-year guard Reed Sheppard started against the Pacers alongside the four usual starters of Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, and Tari Eason.
Houston (30-17, No. 4 in Western Conference) enters February with wins in seven of its last nine games, and the Durant-less Rockets are hoping to build on that momentum in Monday’s matchup against the last-place Pacers (13-36).
Tipoff of Rockets-Pacers is at 6:00 p.m. Central, and the game is being televised regionally on Space City Home Network and nationally via NBA League Pass.
Next after that is a visit from Boston on Wednesday night — and since Durant has yet to be ruled out for that game, all indications are that his sprain is relatively minor.
More: 2026 NBA All-Star announcements: Kevin Durant in, Alperen Sengun out
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets star Kevin Durant to miss at least one game with ankle sprain
Continue reading...
