Durant sidelined for G3 due to ankle injury! Rockets face huge crisis after 0-2 deficit, new starting lineup under test

On April 25 Beijing time, according to renowned reporter Shams, Rockets star Durant will miss today's G3 game due to an ankle injury. Previously listed as questionable, after pre-game warm-ups he was confirmed unavailable. For the Rockets trailing 0-2, this is undoubtedly a massive blow.

With Durant injured, the Rockets are expected to deploy the second youngest starting lineup in NBA playoff history—composed of Shepherd, Amen Thompson, Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., and Sengun, a young core developed by the team itself.

Durant scored 20 points in the first half of G2, but only managed 3 points in the third and fourth quarters of the second half. Durant took only 12 shots in the entire game, nearly 6 fewer than his season average; in the second half he had just 5 attempts, while also committing a season-high 9 turnovers for the game.

Durant's absence is undoubtedly disastrous news for the Rockets, who currently trail 0-2.

Statistics show that in a seven-game series, if the Rockets lose G1 first, they have suffered 11 consecutive losses in subsequent away G2 games, including this G2 loss to the Lakers. The last time they won an away G2 under such circumstances was in the 1986 Western Conference Finals against the Lakers.

Although the Rockets return home, G3 still brings immense pressure. After all, in a seven-game series, when trailing 0-2, their historical record is only 2 wins and 16 losses, and they have already suffered 9 consecutive defeats.

For the Lakers, in a seven-game series, once they achieve a 2-0 lead, their historical record is 45 wins and 1 loss; the only reversal occurred in the 1969 NBA Finals. In James' playoff career, he has never lost a series when leading 2-0.