NBA: Kevin Durant expects better of himself in Rockets' rematch with Lakers

Kevin Durant, a 16-time All-Star, four-time scoring champion, and two-time NBA Finals MVP, is on the verge of surpassing Michael Jordan for fifth place in career points. His credentials are unquestionable.

So when Durant took responsibility for the Houston Rockets’ fourth-quarter collapse against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, it carried weight.

After erasing a six-point third-quarter deficit and briefly taking the lead in the fourth, the Rockets faltered down the stretch, falling 100-92 to the visiting Lakers in the first game of their two-game set, which concludes Wednesday in Houston.

The finale of the three-game season series will serve as the tiebreaker between the Rockets and Lakers, who now hold a 1½-game lead over Houston for the third seed in the Western Conference.

Houston struggled in the fourth quarter, shooting just 4 of 16 and committing nine turnovers while scoring a mere 12 points. Durant, constantly facing double teams once he crossed midcourt, committed two of his game-high seven turnovers in the final frame, fueling the Lakers’ rally.

“I feel like I lost the game for us; it’s that simple,” Durant said. “It’s on me, to be honest. I’m the offense. The opposing team is going to use all their resources to not let me get comfortable.

“I’ve got to be smarter, better with the ball. I’ve got to maybe shoot over some of those double teams. Space out, be ready to catch and shoot, be ready to be a screener, just be in the dunker’s spot. Just being able to be there as a resource for my teammates to provide spacing. I didn’t need to have the ball as much as I did.”

The Rockets played without All-Star center Alperen Sengun (back) for a second straight game and were missing their assists leader. Houston has struggled all season without a traditional point guard to run its offense, and Monday’s loss highlighted the imbalance in their roster following Fred VanVleet’s offseason departure due to a torn ACL.

Meanwhile, the Lakers’ reliance on Luka Doncic, who led all scorers with 36 points, didn’t provide a decisive edge. Their offense thrived through transition points off contested shots and the Rockets’ numerous turnovers.

Los Angeles recorded 16 fast-break points, led by LeBron James, who demonstrated an exceptional ability to convert opportunities in transition.

“LeBron does such a good job of filling the middle of the floor,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “We emphasize running to the corners, throw-aheads, and our transition game. We know we’re not a high-volume transition team, but we’ve been really effective when we push the ball. LeBron, in particular, continues to be the best transition player in the NBA. He’s a dynamic force for our offense.”

-Field Level Media/Reuters