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Lakers have ‘flipped the script’ to open playoffs

For Pierre Andresen, Luke Kennard might be the most exciting player to watch to open the NBA Playoffs as the Lakers continue to roll against the Houston Rockets, who have many questions to answer down 0-2.

NBA: Playoffs-Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James outduels Kevin Durant, but it’s Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard that have Lakers up 2-0 on Rockets

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Kurt Helin,

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How can Rockets right the ship down 0-2?

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Highlights: Lakers take 2-0 series lead to Houston

Kevin Durant cleared, will play in Game 2 against Lakers Tuesday night

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Kurt Helin,

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How Lakers came away with Game 1 win vs. Rockets

Rotoworld Player News

Kevin Durant

HOU Forward #7

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Kevin Durant had 23 points (7-of-12 FGs, 8-of-9 FTs), six rebounds, four assists, one steal, one block and one three-pointer in Tuesday’s Game 2 loss to the Lakers.

While Durant otherwise had a nice game offensively as he led the Rockets with 23 points on 12 attempts from the field, his nine turnovers in Game 2 were glaring. The 37-year-old small forward returned for Game 2 after missing the first game of the series with a knee tendon bruise. Durant and the Rockets will have to regroup and try to hold serve as the series shifts to Houston for Game 3 on Friday.
Kevin Durant

HOU Forward #7

Kevin Durant (knee) is available for Tuesday’s Game 2 against the Lakers, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Durant missed Saturday’s Game 1 loss to the Lakers with a knee tendon bruise. The 27-year-old small forward is back for Game 2, according to Charania. Durant will face off in the playoffs against LeBron James for the first time since the 2018 NBA Finals.
Kevin Durant

HOU Forward #7

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said that Kevin Durant (knee) participated in about half of Monday’s practice.

Due to a right knee contusion, Durant did not play in Saturday’s Game 1 loss to the Lakers. The veteran forward’s ability to participate in half of Monday’s session is not a good sign, even with Udoka saying that Durant will be a game-time decision for Tuesday’s Game 2. Reed Sheppard moved into the starting lineup in the series opener and struggled, shooting 6-of-20 from the field in 36 minutes of action. If Durant remains out, they’ll need more production from Sheppard and Alperen Şengün to avoid falling into a 0-2 hole.
Jabari Smith

HOU Forward #10

Jabari Smith Jr. accounted for 16 points (5-of-14 FGs, 3-of-5 FTs), 12 rebounds, two steals and three three-pointers in Saturday’s Game 1 loss to the Lakers.

Smith finished Saturday’s defeat with playoff career-highs in points and rebounds, recording his first postseason double-double. He shot 3-of-9 from beyond the arc in Game 1, with the percentage being a few points lower than his mark during the regular season (36.3 percent). Smith is one of many Rockets who benefit from Kevin Durant’s presence on the floor; the veteran scorer did not play on Saturday due to a right knee contusion. If Durant can return for Tuesday’s Game 2, it would be unsurprising if Smith offered a more efficient stat line.
Reed Sheppard

HOU Guard #15

Reed Sheppard tallied 17 points (6-of-20 FGs), one rebound, eight assists, one steal, one block and five three-pointers in Saturday’s Game 1 loss to the Lakers.

With Kevin Durant (knee) unavailable, Sheppard returned to the Rockets’ starting lineup for Game 1. While the second-year guard has proven himself a competent scorer, he struggled on Saturday. Sheppard shot 5-of-14 from three and 1-of-6 from two, and the eight assists were countered by four turnovers. Regardless of what happens with Durant moving forward, the Rockets will need a more efficient Sheppard if they’re to play deep into the playoffs.
Amen Thompson

HOU Guard-Forward #1

Amen Thompson notched 17 points (7-of-18 FGs, 3-of-5 FTs), seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one blocked shot in Saturday’s Game 1 loss to the Lakers.

After scoring a career-high 41 points in his final outing of the regular season, Thompson was held to less than half that number on Saturday. While he didn’t have a terrible night shooting the basketball, the Rockets’ guard’s inability to consistently hit jumpers can put him in a challenging spot when the opposition is locked in defensively. The Lakers were able to make Thompson play in a crowd for most of Game 1, limiting his effectiveness as a scorer. Getting Kevin Durant (knee) back for Tuesday’s Game 2 will help the entire Rockets’ roster, not just Thompson.
Alperen Sengun

HOU Center #28

Alperen Şengün finished Saturday’s Game 1 loss to the Lakers with 19 points (6-of-19 FGs, 7-of-9 FTs), eight rebounds, six assists, two steals and one blocked shot.

With no Kevin Durant (knee) in the fold for Game 1, this felt like a spot in which the Rockets would run even more of their offense through Şengün. While he did attempt 19 shots, there were moments when Şengün was not as involved in the offense as he should be. The final stat line was solid, but the Rockets are going to need more from him, regardless of Durant’s availability for the rest of the series. Houston will look to even the series at one game apiece on Tuesday night.
Reed Sheppard

HOU Guard #15

Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, Josh Okogie, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Şengün will start Saturday’s Game 1 against the Lakers.

Three of the four best players in this series won’t be available for Game 1, as Kevin Durant has joined the Lakers’ Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves on the sidelines due to a knee contusion. Sheppard returns to the starting lineup, and he’ll shoulder a heavy workload along with Thompson and Şengün as playmakers within the Rockets’ offense.
Kevin Durant

HOU Forward #7

Kevin Durant (knee) is out for Saturday’s Game 1 against the Lakers.

Initially questionable, Durant will miss Saturday’s series-opener due to a right knee contusion. During his pregame availability, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said that he hopes this is a one-game issue. With no Durant, Reed Sheppard will move into the starting lineup after coming off the bench the last time that Houston was close to full strength.
Kevin Durant

HOU Forward #7

Kevin Durant (knee) is questionable to play against the Lakers on Saturday.

Durant’s status comes after resting in the regular-season finale against the Grizzlies. Now with Game 1 approaching, his uncertain availability is undoubtedly worth monitoring. Durant, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, averaged 26.0 points and 4.8 assists per game this season. If unable to go, his superstar production will be missed in Game 1, which will be without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves on the Lakers’ side.

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