The Houston Rockets find themselves 3-0 down versus the Los Angeles Lakers in their Round 1 series, which is why we are now confident enough to make this proclamation.
The Phoenix Suns are better off without Kevin Durant, no matter how their own matchup versus the Oklahoma City Thunder goes. Spoiler alert, they're probably getting swept.
Durant nowhere to be seen on Rockets' bench in Game 3
During the eventual overtime loss for the Rockets versus a Lakers team without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves (more on them in a minute), Durant was nowhere to be seen.
His ankle issue seemingly requiring treatment during the game, which head coach Ime Udoka explained as the reason why he was not present.
Ime Udoka said Kevin Durant wasn't on the bench tonight because he was getting treatment
— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) April 25, 2026
This does feel like a situation Durant cannot win, because of course he might have been doing everything he could in that moment to ensure he is available for Game 4.
But this remains a bad look, and it came directly after he was seemingly called out by his own teammate ahead of that game.
Unfortunately this is one of those times when Durant's reputation and what we've seen from him before makes this look worse than it is. Would there be the same feeling if this was Stephen Curry for example?
His absence was compunded by the fact Doncic was on the Lakers' bench and clearly engaged throughout, while Reaves had planned to play in the game after his own injury woes.
This is the kind of behavior that would not have been a surprise during Durant's time in The Valley, and you would think he would no better than to not be there.
There doesn't look to be another trade on the horizon for his services, so making it work with this Rockets team is what he is going to have to do.
Meanwhile in Phoenix there is no way Dillon Brooks or Jalen Green would not be visible if unavailable during the postseason.
In fact both of them (Brooks with a fractured hand and Green with his many hamstring issues) were with the team throughout the regular season where possible, both home and away.
To be getting schooled by 41-year-old LeBron James (and his son) while failing to play in two of the first three games for different issues is as bad an ending to this season as the Rockets would have expected.
If he can't go in Game 4 and is nowhere to be seen on the bench, then the problems for the Rockets are only beginning.
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