One of the NBA’s most prolific scorers might miss Monday’s matchup between the Houston Rockets (30-17) and the Indiana Pacers (13-36) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Rockets F Kevin Durant hasn’t missed a game due to injury this season, but KD's status for Monday is up in the air due to an ankle injury. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. ET.
Below, we’ll provide a Kevin Durant injury update ahead of the Rockets vs. Pacers game and identify a Rockets player worth targeting for your NBA picks today, plus PrizePicks NBA projections and analysis for Monday night.
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Kevin Durant Injury Update vs. Pacers Tonight: KD Ruled Out
Durant has been ruled out with a left ankle sprain for Monday vs. the Pacers. This will mark his third absence of the season, as he missed two games in late November for personal reasons. He’s been an important part of Houston’s offense in 2025-26.
Alperen Sengun (21.0 points per game) and Amen Thompson (18.2 ppg) will become the Rockets' next best scoring options, as the team will need to replace KD's 26.2 ppg.
The Texas product is as efficient as he’s ever been as a scorer and is on track to become the second player in NBA history to record three 50-40-90 seasons.
He’s averaging 26.2 points while shooting 51.0% from the field, 40.5% from beyond the arc, and 88.5% from the charity stripe. Hall of Fame PG Steve Nash has accomplished the feat a record four times.
Durant carries a large workload as the Rockets’ leading scorer, but other players have shown that they can step up on the rare occasions he hasn’t suited up this season.
What Rockets Players Benefit with KD Out?
None of the Rockets’ regular starters have seen huge bumps with Durant off the floor this year — though it is in a small sample size. However, G Reed Sheppard could be called up from the bench to make his fifth start of the campaign.
The former Kentucky Wildcats sharpshooter has started with Durant out twice this season and posted 19.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per contest in those outings. He scored a career-high 31 points on the road against the Golden State Warriors in the last game Durant wasn’t available for.
Sheppard averages 12.5 points per game, but attempts 17.0 field goals per game when Durant isn’t part of the starting lineup. His scoring could be crucial against the Pacers’ 25th-ranked scoring defense, which gives up 118.4 points per game.
PG Amen Thompson is another name worth watching. He’s posted 35.0 Pts+Rebs+Asts through two games without Durant this season, and should be relied on more as a scorer tonight.
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Reed Sheppard PrizePicks Projections vs. Wizards
Here are the most popular Reed Sheppard player picks vs. the Pacers tonight, via PrizePicks.
- 15 Points
- 18.5 Pts+Asts
- 17.5 Pts+Rebs
- 21.5 Pts+Rebs+Asts
- 5.5 Rebs+Asts
Make Rockets vs. Pacers Picks on PrizePicks
Kevin Durant has been ruled out for Monday’s Rockets vs. Pacers game. Houston is 2-0 without him this season, as players like Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson have proven that they can rise to the occasion during his absences.
Both Sheppard and Thompson players could post impressive stat lines on the road in this pairing without KD.
No matter how you think Monday's Rockets vs. Pacers game plays out, you can cash in on your NBA picks on PrizePicks. Just pick your players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in if your picks are right.
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