Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant had been targeting a return for Game 4, but his status remained unclear less than 24 hours before tipoff, according to Varun Shankar of The Houston Chronicle.
Durant had missed Game 3 with a sprained left ankle, and head coach Ime Udoka said the swelling had improved, though soreness persisted.
“Every day that goes by, the likelihood (of Durant playing) goes up,” Udoka said.
“But I thought he might be OK (Friday) based on shootaround. And that’s different, going half-speed and ramping it up right before a game, so you really can’t tell, but doing everything he can to get back.”
Udoka also noted that the full extent of the injury wasn’t immediately obvious during Game 2, only becoming more apparent the following day when swelling and discomfort increased.
Durant had already missed the series opener with a knee issue, adding to concerns about his availability.
Southwest Notes: Durant, Rockets, Fox, Pelicans https://t.co/OHFVZpQm3g
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 26, 2026
