Durant blames himself after debut with Rockets: Key mistakes in loss against Thunder

Durant Takes Responsibility After Rockets’ Loss to Thunder

Kevin Durant took responsibility for the Houston Rockets’ defeat in their debut, when the current champion, Oklahoma City Thunder, won 125-124 in double overtime at the Paycom Center.

I missed the free throws and committed a foul at the end. I think those two plays are the reason we lost.

Kevin Durant

On a night where Oklahoma City celebrated its NBA title with a ring ceremony and the raising of a championship banner, Durant scored 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting and committed two crucial turnovers that, according to him, cost Houston the game before fouling out with 2.3 seconds remaining. The Rockets led 124-123 with 11 seconds remaining in the second overtime when a fake by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Durant to his sixth foul, sending the reigning MVP to the line to score the winning free throws. The play marked what Durant might consider the second missed opportunity to emerge victorious from a sold-out arena. With 9.5 seconds remaining in regulation, Durant missed the first of two free throws with the Rockets leading 103-102. He made the second free throw to put Houston ahead by two points, but Gilgeous-Alexander scored a 16-foot shot with 2.6 seconds left to send the game to overtime. The catastrophe for Durant and the Rockets almost unfolded in the first overtime as well. The 37-year-old forward grabbed a rebound with 2.2 seconds remaining and called a timeout that Houston didn’t have, while his teammate Alperen Sengun ran to stop him. The play resulted in a cascade of boos from the crowd of 18,203 people. Despite a difficult debut, Durant showed a glimpse of what Houston’s offense could be once the Rockets solve some problems. Durant went 5-for-6 on 2-point jump shots for a team that only experienced once last season a player scoring five or more of their 2-point jump shots in a game. Durant managed to cause damage in an offensive that was facilitated for the most part by Sengun, who scored a personal record of five three-pointers while scoring 39 points, with 11 rebounds and 7 assists, the team’s high.

It’s incredible. We’re going to need that from him as much as we can. Going down, making plays. There was also a lot of space for him at the top of the key where he likes to work. So it’s something he has to get used to now that he has so much space to operate. So, he scored the three well, shot it with confidence. We’re going to need that in the future.

Kevin Durant on Alperen Sengun

Houston presented a starting unit against the Thunder that had an average height of 82.2 inches, recording as the tallest starting group in an opening game since 1970-71, when starters were first tracked. Durant started at guard for the first time since 2009 alongside Amen Thompson, who was limited at the end against OKC due to calf cramps, according to Rockets coach Ime Udoka. The lineup also featured Jabari Smith Jr. and Sengun as forwards with Steven Adams playing center. Durant affirmed that he does not expect to make all the important shots in every close game, but feels that his presence can relieve the tension for everyone, and that the team can make plays. He pointed out that on some nights it will be his night, and on others, it will be Alperen’s.