Kevin Durant was cleared on the Rockets' Wednesday, Sept. 23 injury report, coming off the day-to-day tag he had carried since Sept. 6 for a left ankle and leg issue. He is now available for Houston's next game, at the Mavericks on Oct. 9.
What happened
The Rockets listed Kevin Durant as cleared on the injury report issued Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 3:05 p.m. ET, lifting the day-to-day designation he had carried since Sunday, Sept. 6, when he was listed day-to-day with a left ankle and leg issue. The Wednesday report does not include a new detail and carries no additional comment on the clearance. No expected return date was needed or announced, since Durant is no longer listed as out or questionable. At 37, he enters the update fully off Houston's injury report.
What it means for the Rockets
Durant's next game is at the Mavericks on Friday, Oct. 9 at 8:00 a.m. ET. Houston's record stands at 0-0, since the 2026-27 season has not started, so there is no record with or without him yet. Last season, in 2025-26, he averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 36.4 minutes across 78 games. In games without him, the Rockets have leaned on Alperen Sengun (33.3 minutes, 20.4 points), Amen Thompson (37.4 minutes, 18.3 points) and Jabari Smith Jr. (35.1 minutes, 15.8 points), with Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason, Steven Adams, Josh Okogie and Dorian Finney-Smith also drawing rotation minutes.
What to watch
No expected return timeline was announced, since Durant is now cleared rather than out. The next injury report will show whether that status holds through the Oct. 9 game at Dallas. Steven Adams remains day-to-day with a left ankle and leg issue on the same report, so his status is also worth tracking before then.
Is Kevin Durant playing at Mavericks?
Yes. Durant was cleared on the Wednesday, Sept. 23 injury report, removing the day-to-day tag, ahead of Houston's Oct. 9 game at Dallas.
When will Kevin Durant be back?
He is already back. Durant is cleared as of the Sept. 23 report, and no return timeline was announced since he is not listed as out.