Houston F Kevin Durant is questionable for Game 1 of the Rockets vs. Lakers playoff game at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 18.
On Friday night, Tim MacMahon of ESPN reported Durant suffered a right knee contusion during practice this week. Saturday would be his first absence from the injury.
KD was out on February 2, and Rockets C Alperen Sengun erupted for 39 points and 16 rebounds. Pick More or Less for Alperen Sengun’s 20.5 points projection and 8.5 rebounds projection today on PrizePicks.
Below, we'll break down the latest Kevin Durant injury update and who to target on PrizePicks if the Rockets’ star forward is out for Game 1.
Make your NBA Playoff picks on PrizePicks — including ones on Rockets vs. Lakers and other Saturday games.
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Kevin Durant Injury Update: Is Durant Playing Tonight vs. Lakers?
As mentioned, this has not been a lingering injury for Durant, as he suffered the knee injury during practice this week. The NBA injury report lists KD as questionable due to a right knee contusion.
This is the first time that Durant has appeared on the injury report with any knee injury this season. He missed only four of 82 regular-season games, including the regular-season finale on April 12.
In MacMahon’s report, he stated the Rockets are “optimistic” this will not be a significant injury for the best-of-seven series.
If he’s active, pick More or Less for Kevin Durant’s 24.5 points projection today on PrizePicks.
What Players to Target on PrizePicks if Durant Is Out?
Durant being inactive would even the field a bit, as the Lakers will be without G Luka Doncic (hamstring) and SG Austin Reaves (oblique) on Saturday night.
KD leads Houston with 26.0 PPG and 17.6 field goal attempts per contest, translating to a team-high 27.4% usage rate, per FantasyLabs.
Alperen Sengun isn’t far behind with a 27.1% usage rate. Plus, that increases to 28.6% when Durant is off the court. Sengun is second on the Rockets with 20.4 PPG, while leading with 8.9 rebounds per game (RPG) and 6.2 assists per game (APG).
Elsewhere, Rockets G Reed Sheppard (+4.6%) and F Jabari Smith (+2.4%) see the largest increases in usage rate when KD’s on the bench.
Sheppard was inserted into the starting lineup over three regular-season absences from Durant, excluding the final regular-season matchup with players resting in bulk. In this three-game split, the second-year guard from Kentucky logged 29.7 minutes and 16.3 points per game — surpassing 13.5 PPG and 26.2 minutes per contest for the season.
Here are the Rockets players who may benefit most on PrizePicks if Durant is out — and their stat projections for Saturday.
- C Alperen Sengun — 20.5 Points / 34.5 Pts+Rebs+Asts / 41.5 Fantasy Score
- G Reed Sheppard — 12 Points / 17.5 Pts+Rebs+Asts / 2.5 3-pointers Made
- F Jabari Smith — 14.5 Points / 22.5 Pts+Rebs+Asts / 28.5 Fantasy Score
Along with Sheppard increasing his averages when KD is out, Sengun recorded 24.3 PPG in three games without Durant on the court this season.
Pick More or Less Rockets player stats on PrizePicks now before 8:30 p.m. ET tip.
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Make Rockets vs. Lakers Picks on PrizePicks
If Durant is held out of his fifth game of the season, Sengun and Sheppard have shown the ability to increase their production. Plus, Jabari Smith sees a healthy +2.4% increase in usage rate when KD is off the court. Who could step up in a potential Durant absence on Saturday night?
Don't wait until lock — make your Rockets vs. Lakers picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you're right.
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