In a debut marked by tension and emotion, Kevin Durant took responsibility after the Houston Rockets’ defeat to the reigning champion, Oklahoma City Thunder, in an exciting game that went into double overtime.
The match, which culminated in a score of 125-124 in favor of the Thunder, took place at the Paycom Center, where Oklahoma City celebrated its NBA title with a ring ceremony and the raising of a commemorative banner.
I missed the free throws and committed a foul at the end. I think those two plays are the reason we lost.
Durant, who scored 23 points on 9 of 16 from the field, acknowledged that his mistakes were decisive. He committed two crucial turnovers and, ultimately, fouled out with 2.3 seconds left.
The situation intensified when the Rockets, leading 124-123 with 11 seconds left in the second overtime, saw a fake by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander cause Durant’s sixth foul, sending the opposing player to the free throw line, thus sealing the victory for the Thunder.
This was not Durant’s only critical moment. In the final seconds of regulation, with the Rockets leading 103-102, he missed a crucial free throw, although he managed to make the second, putting Houston two points ahead. However, Gilgeous-Alexander responded with a 16-foot shot that sent the game to overtime.
In the first paragraph, Durant was close to making an even bigger mistake when, with 2.2 seconds left, he requested a timeout that his team didn’t have, which generated a reaction from the fans. The referees did not penalize the action, according to crew chief Zach Zarba.
Despite the defeat, Durant showed glimpses of what he can bring to the Rockets, with an outstanding performance in two-point shots. The team is confident that, with time, the chemistry between the players will strengthen.
Alperen Sengun, with a stellar performance of 39 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, was key in the Rockets’ offense. Durant praised his performance and highlighted the importance of his contribution to the team.
The Rockets’ starting five, with an average height of 82.2 inches, was the tallest in an opening game since the 1970-71 season. Durant, playing as a guard for the first time since 2009, shared the court with Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Steven Adams.
Durant emphasized the importance of teamwork and preparation for each game, regardless of who the star is at any given moment.
