The Houston Rockets’ attempt to come back against the Los Angeles Lakers will have to continue on without their top player.
Kevin Durant won’t play Game 6 on Friday as he continues to battle a bone bruise in his left ankle, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Thursday.
The Rockets fell behind 3-0 in the first-round series against LeBron James’ Lakers but have rallied to win the past two.
Durant has missed four games in this series after he sat out the opener with a bruised right knee. He returned for Game 2, scoring 23 points in 41 minutes of the 101-94 loss, during which he injured his ankle late in the game.
Houston won 99-93 in Game 5 on Wednesday to avoid elimination.
Durant’s injury problems this post-season came after he ranked second in the league in the regular season by playing 2,840 minutes.
The 37-year-old, who is in his first season in Houston after an off-season trade from Phoenix, is the fifth-leading scorer in NBA history.
–with files from The Associated Press
