The Houston Rockets will be without Kevin Durant for their next two games. ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Durant will miss Monday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns and Wednesday’s game versus the Golden State Warriors due to family matters, though further details have not been disclosed.
Durant is expected to return on Sunday for the second half of a four-game road trip, starting with back-to-back games against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.
This season marks Durant’s first with the Rockets after joining the team following two challenging years with the Phoenix Suns, culminating in the NBA’s largest trade deal. He also secured a two-year, $90 million contract extension with Houston. Currently, Durant is averaging 24.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, ranking 18th in the league. In a recent game on Friday, he scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds during a 112-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic’s near triple-double performance. This defeat ended Houston’s five-game winning streak.
The Rockets head into the week with a 10-4 road record. Durant, alongside teammates Alperen Sengun and Armen Thompson, aims to guide the team to their second straight playoff berth, a feat the Rockets haven’t achieved since Mike D’Antoni’s tenure. The 2020 season was the last time D’Antoni led the team to a playoff series victory.
Fan Take: Kevin Durant’s brief absence is a significant storyline for basketball fans, as his presence on the court greatly influences the Rockets’ chances of success. How the team performs without him could reshape expectations for this season and impact the broader competitive landscape of the NBA.
