Copyright Heavy.
The Houston Rockets came up just short against the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. After a double overtime slugfest, the champs took care of business in front of their loyal home crowd, defeating Houston 125-124 in double overtime. Kevin Durant made his debut as a Rocket, of course, in front of his old team. And as they usually are when the 2013-14 MVP returns to OKC, the boo birds were out amid his introduction. Despite that, Durant says it’s all love between him and Oklahoma City, even if he gets booed when on the floor. “It’s part of the brand of OKC to boo me when my name gets introduced, but I think it’s all love after that,” he told the press via Michael Shapiro. “Walking onto the court, at the hotel, walking around town, every time I come here, it’s just so much love and respect. People always telling me they appreciate my time here. And I feel the same way.” KD Blames Himself for the Loss Durant, the new veteran leader for Houston, took the blame for the heartbreaking double overtime loss. “I missed the free throws, and I fouled somebody at the end,” Durant said via ESPN. “I think those two plays are the reason we lost.” The two-time Finals MVP was referring to the end of the second overtime, when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander baited Durant into his sixth and final foul. “Fouled Shai, put them up one,” Durant said. “I’ve got to stay down, be more disciplined, those opportunities to get a stop to seal the game.” Durant also had the opportunity in regulation to put the Rockets up by three, but was unable to knock down two free throws. He knocked down one, missed another, and Gilgeous-Alexander hit a beautiful mid-range jumper with 2.6 seconds left to send it to overtime. Watch Out for the Rockets Despite the loss, the Houston Rockets were incredibly impressive in last night’s season opener. Durant had a solid debut, scoring 23 points on nine-of-16 shooting with nine rebounds and three assists. But Alperen Sengun had an offensive explosion, leading the team in points with 39. “He’s making our jobs easy,” Sengun said via ESPN. “With [more] time, we’re going to get better and better together.” Houston’s offense is going to be different from last year, with Durant attracting defensive attention away from the young Rockets such as Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. But early on, it looks like Sengun is going to be benefiting the most. “It’s incredible, We’re going to need that from him as much as we can. Getting downhill, making plays. There was a lot of space for him out there too at the top of the key where he likes to work,” Durant said about his Turkish teammate. “So, something that he’s got to get used to with just having so much room to operate now. So, he knocked down the 3 well, shot it with confidence. We’re going to need that going forward.” Despite still not having a true point guard, Houston looked like a top team in the West against the reigning champs on their ring night. With 81 games to go, it will be fun to watch this team develop and come together. “We make plays as a team,” Durant told the media. “I’m not expected to make every big shot in every close game. I just feel like my presence out there can ease the tension for everybody and we can make plays. Some nights, it’s going to be my night in the fourth. Some nights, it’s going to be Alpi’s. So, we all just have to prepare for it.”
