Houston Rockets F Kevin Durant is currently listed as questionable for Friday’s Lakers vs. Rockets NBA playoff game at 8:00 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
An ankle injury could continue to slow down the star forward as he attempts to rally the Rockets from a 0-2 series deficit. If Durant can’t take the floor, which Rockets players’ PrizePicks projections could be impacted?
Below, we’ll dissect the latest Kevin Durant injury update, if KD will play tonight, and who to target on PrizePicks if he ends up sitting out.
Make your NBA Playoff picks on PrizePicks — including ones for Game 3 of Lakers vs. Rockets.
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Kevin Durant Injury Update: Is KD Playing Tonight vs. Lakers?
Durant is officially listed as questionable for Friday’s game against the Lakers, according to the NBA’s injury report.
He was slowed down by a right knee contusion that forced him to miss Game 1 of the series. The Rockets star was also listed as questionable heading into Game 2 but ultimately ended up taking the court.
However, the ankle sprain is a new injury for the Rockets' forward.
With Durant’s status being monitored, you can make picks on his PrizePicks projections if he does play. Popular Kevin Durant picks include 24 points, 34.5 Pts+Rebs+Asts, and a 40 fantasy score for Friday night.
What Players to Target on PrizePicks if Durant Is Out?
It’s no secret that Durant is the straw that stirs the drink when it comes to the Rockets’ offensive attack. Durant is one of the NBA’s most gifted scorers and has showcased that fact time and time again.
The Rockets’ star scored 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting while securing 6 rebounds and dishing out 4 assists in his return to the lineup in Game 2. However, Durant was held to just 3 points in the second half.
Durant is a volume shooter, as evidenced by his 27.4 true shot attempts per 100 possessions (91st percentile), per databallr. The Rockets’ wing also spends a large amount of the time (22.1%) as the team’s primary ball-handler when he’s on the court.
If Durant isn’t able to take the floor, a trio of Houston players could excel in his absence. Rockets G Reed Sheppard’s usage increases by +7.1% when Durant isn’t on the court. Houston F Tari Eason sees his 3-point percentage improve by +11.3% when Durant is off the floor. In addition, G Amen Thompson sees a spike of +2.3 in his plus/minus in Durant-less minutes.
Here are the Rockets players who may benefit most on PrizePicks if Durant is out, as well as their stat projections for Friday.
- Amen Thompson vs. Lakers Projections: 17.5 Points / 31 Pts+Rebs+Asts / 5.5 Assists
- Reed Sheppard vs. Lakers Projections: 10 Points / 13.5 Pts+Asts / 5.5 3-point Attempts
- Tari Eason vs. Lakers Projections: 9.5 Points / 5.5 Rebs / 15.5 Pts+Rebs
Given his overall impact, Sheppard may be the player worth keeping tabs on leading up to Friday’s contest.
Pick More or Less Rockets player stats on PrizePicks now before 8:00 p.m. ET tip-off.
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Make Lakers vs. Rockets Picks on PrizePicks
Durant is questionable, and the game is just hours away. Given how important Durant is to Houston’s offense, his injury could severely impact how the Rockets operate in a must-win scenario.
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