Rockets riding Durant streak

NBA.com’s April 2 postseason update lists Houston as the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference and shows the Rockets matched up with the No. 4 Denver Nuggets in the projected first‑round bracket if current positions hold. (nba.com) Kevin Durant has averaged 24.0 points across his three most recent games — 27 on Mar. 31 vs. New York, 25 on Mar. 27 at Memphis and 20 on Mar. 29 at New Orleans — and is scoring 25.9 points per game for the season, per ESPN game logs. (espn.com) Houston committed nine turnovers and scored just 12 fourth‑quarter points in a 100–92 loss to the Lakers after LA sent frequent double‑teams at Durant, a scenario ESPN identified as disrupting Houston’s late‑game offense. (espn.com) The club has been operating without veteran floor‑general Fred VanVleet all season after he suffered a torn ACL in September, a loss widely reported as removing an experienced late‑game facilitator from the rotation. (espn.com) Amen Thompson averaged about 5.3 assists with roughly 2.2 turnovers per game in March, while Reed Sheppard is at roughly 3.4 assists and 2.6 turnovers per game for the season — raw numbers analysts point to when questioning whether either can be a single, dependable closer. (espn.com) Head coach Ime Udoka publicly called out Thompson and Sheppard after a 108–106 collapse, and several outlets have singled out Houston’s late‑game ball‑handling and Durant’s increased handling duties as repeat structural concerns. (clutchpoints.com) With the Play‑In scheduled for April 14 and the regular season closing, preserving or improving that projected No. 5 slot will hinge on whether Houston can settle on a primary late‑game ball‑handler before a likely first‑round meeting with Denver. (nba.com)