Durant’s frustration, Rockets sputter
Kevin Durant visibly showed frustration after Houston’s 100‑92 loss to the Lakers — the Rockets scored just four points in the final six minutes and coughed up seven fourth‑quarter turnovers in that game (youtube.com). Season context is ugly: they’re 8‑12 vs top‑10 teams with a −3.2 net rating and a 16.6% turnover rate in those matchups, forcing talk that Ime Udoka must rework Durant’s role before the playoffs (youtube.com).
Kevin Durant said “I just feel like I lost the game for us tonight” after the loss and finished with 18 points and seven turnovers. (cbssports.com) Houston committed 22 turnovers in the game — 17 of them in the second half — a collapse Ime Udoka blamed on “careless” passes and players not meeting the ball. (NBA.com box score / (click2houston.com)) Durant managed only two second-half points, a rare quiet back half for the team’s primary scorer while he still logged 37:19 of court time. (cbssports.com / NBA.com box score) Jabari Smith Jr. led Houston with 22 points and Amen Thompson added 19, combining for 41 of the Rockets’ 92 points. (NBA.com box score) Luka Dončić paced the Lakers with 36 points as L.A. extended its win streak to six games, and the victory put the Lakers 1½ games ahead of Houston for the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference. (AP News / cbssports.com) Houston was without Alperen Şengün because of lower‑back pain, removing a 20.2‑point per game contributor from the rotation ahead of a scheduled rematch with Los Angeles on Wednesday. (NBA.com recap / ESPN recap)
