The Houston Rockets and Kevin Durant were expected to overwhelm a short-handed Los Angeles Lakers team missing Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic in their first-round Western Conference series. Instead, they head home down 0–2, with growing questions about Durant after a disappointing Game 2.
Nick Wright Believes A First-Round Exit Would Be a “Catastrophe” for Durant
Houston acquired Durant in a blockbuster trade from the Phoenix Suns to elevate the franchise into a true contender. Instead, they now face the possibility of a first-round exit against a depleted Lakers squad.
After missing Game 1 with a right knee contusion, Durant returned in Game 2 with high expectations. He was expected to steady the offense and exploit Los Angeles’ lack of depth. Instead, the night unraveled.
While LeBron James delivered a vintage performance for the Lakers, Durant struggled against their defensive schemes, committing 9 turnovers, a career high, in the 101–94 loss.
Durant still led Houston with 23 points, but the split told the story. He scored 20 in the first half on efficient shooting, but was held to just three points in the second half as the Lakers increased defensive pressure, forcing five turnovers from him after the break.
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That performance didn’t go unnoticed, with many around the league pointing to Durant as a key factor in the loss. NBA analyst Nick Wright offered a slightly different perspective, noting that “there was no reason to be shocked that the Rockets would look dysfunctional when, for giant portions of the season, they were dysfunctional.”
However, he emphasized that losing the series could have major consequences for Durant.
“I don’t want to be too harsh on Durant…but as I said before, just missing Game 1 doesn’t change the fact that we all agreed if this Lakers team, without Luka and AR, beats this Rockets team, it’s a catastrophe for Kevin Durant,” he said on FS1’s First Things First.
“He was there yesterday, he was the best player on the court yesterday in the first half,” Wright added, pointing to the sharp drop-off after halftime.
The Rockets were stifled on offense as the Lakers clamped down on Durant by double-teaming the veteran forward. Turnovers and a lack of effort on defense allowed the Lakers to stay ahead for much of the game, and now they have a 2-0 lead over Houston, an outcome most believed wasn’t possible.
Game 3 in Houston is now critical for the Rockets. No team in NBA history has ever recovered from a 0–3 series deficit, meaning Houston must respond immediately. If they are to turn the series around, Durant will need to lead the charge, or risk this chapter in Houston ending in disappointment reminiscent of his recent struggles in Phoenix.
