A marquee player again will miss the Warriors-Rockets game.
Warriors forward Kevin Durant didn't practice Tuesday in Houston, and he has been ruled out for the Wednesday prime-time game because of a right ankle sprain.
Durant didn't practice today in Houston but there is still some optimism that he'll return during this four-game trip. https://t.co/VVbwSyrBgo— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) March 12, 2019
There was a bit of good news, though, as Durant got up some shots after the session.
Positive sign: Kevin Durant is shooting in tennis shoes following practice in Houston pic.twitter.com/szg643iK6K— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) March 12, 2019
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Durant suffered the injury midway through the fourth quarter of Sunday's home loss to the Phoenix Suns.
The Rockets have won the first three meetings with the Warriors this season. In the first, Steph Curry didn't play because of an injury. Chris Paul missed the second game, and James Harden sat out the third matchup on Feb. 23.
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This will be the second game Durant has missed this season. In the previous one -- Feb. 28 against the Orlando Magic -- Alfonzo McKinnie started in Durant's place.
The Warriors are holding on to the top seed in the Western Conference, but the Rockets are making a strong push. They enter Wednesday's matchup just 3.5 games behind the Warriors and two games behind the Denver Nuggets for the second seed. Durant's absence could see the Rockets close the gap on the defending NBA champs.