OKLAHOMA CITY — Kevin Durant blamed himself for a Houston Rockets debut gone awry Tuesday, because the defending champion Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder bested his new membership 125-124 in double time beyond regulation at Paycom Heart.
“I missed the free throws, and I fouled someone on the finish,” Durant mentioned. “I believe these two performs are the explanation we misplaced.”
On the evening Oklahoma Metropolis celebrated its NBA title with a hoop ceremony and raised a championship banner to the rafters, Durant scored 23 factors on 9-of-16 capturing and dedicated two essential errors that he believes value Houston the sport earlier than fouling out with 2.3 seconds remaining. The Rockets led 124-123 with 11 seconds left within the second time beyond regulation interval when a pump faux by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lured Durant into his sixth foul, which despatched the reigning MVP to the road to hit the successful free throws.
“Fouled Shai, put them up one,” Durant mentioned. “I’ve obtained to remain down, be extra disciplined [with] these alternatives to get a cease to seal the sport.”
The play marked what Durant would possibly think about the second squandered alternative to stroll out of a sold-out area victorious. With 9.5 seconds left in regulation, Durant missed the primary of two free throws with the Rockets main 103-102. Durant related on the second free throw to place Houston forward by two factors, however Gilgeous-Alexander hit a 16-footer with 2.6 ticks left to ship the sport into time beyond regulation.
Disaster for Durant and the Rockets almost unfolded within the first time beyond regulation interval, too. The 37-year-old snatched a rebound with 2.2 seconds remaining and signaled for a timeout that Houston did not possess as teammate Alperen Sengun ran over to cease him. The play resulted in a cascade of boos from a crowd of 18,203. A postgame pool report revealed that referees did not whistle Durant for a technical foul on the play as a result of not one of the recreation officers noticed the ahead sign for the timeout, in response to crew chief Zach Zarba.
“I believe positively he referred to as timeout about 3 times — verbally and bodily along with his palms,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “I believe the refs simply missed it, however that is life. You make errors in life, and you progress on. Nothing too loopy. They did not do it on function or something. It is simply life. You miss issues. You make errors. You progress on.”
Regardless of a tough debut, Durant flashed a glimpse of what Houston’s offense might be as soon as the Rockets iron out a number of the wrinkles. Durant shot 5 of 6 on 2-point jumpers on Tuesday for a group that skilled just one occasion final season of a participant hitting 5 or extra of his 2-point leap photographs in a recreation. All of Durant’s made 2-point discipline objectives got here inside the ultimate 8 seconds, in response to GeniusIQ, tying for his most such makes in a recreation since 2013-14, when participant monitoring started.
When Houston wanted to generate a strong look with the shot clock winding down, it made positive to search out Durant.
“He is making our jobs straightforward,” Sengun mentioned. “With [more] time we’ll get higher and higher collectively.”
Durant managed to inflict his harm in an offense that was largely facilitated by Sengun, who made a career-high 5 three pointers, scoring a game-high 39 factors with 11 rebounds and a team-high 7 assists.
“It is unbelievable,” Durant mentioned of Sengun’s efficiency. “We’re gonna want that from him as a lot as we will. Getting downhill, making performs. There was a variety of house for him on the market, too, on the prime of the important thing the place he likes to work. So, [it’s] one thing that he is obtained to get used to with simply having a lot room to function now. So, he knocked down the three effectively, shot it with confidence. We’re gonna want that going ahead.”
Houston trotted out a beginning unit towards the Thunder that stood a mean peak of 82.2 inches, registering because the tallest group of starters in an opener since 1970-71, when starters have been first tracked, in response to Elias Sports activities Bureau.
Durant began at guard for the primary time since 2009 alongside Amen Thompson, who was hobbled late towards OKC by cramps in his calf, in response to Rockets coach Ime Udoka. The lineup additionally featured Jabari Smith Jr. and Sengun at ahead with Steven Adams taking part in heart.
“We make performs as a group,” Durant mentioned. “I am not anticipated to make each massive shot in each shut recreation. I simply really feel like my presence on the market can ease the stress for everyone and we will make performs. Some nights, it may be my evening within the fourth. Some nights, it may be Alpi’s. So, all of us simply have to organize for it.”