Durant missed Game 1 due to a knee contusion suffered during a practice last week. He’ll be a game-time decision for Game 2, but even if he’s on the floor, he won’t be 100%.<\/p>\n
Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs was an utter disaster for the Houston Rockets. Even without Kevin Durant, they should have come into Los Angeles and stolen the first-round opener against the Lakers, who are missing Luka Don\u010di\u0107 and Austin Reaves. Instead, they enter Game 2 down 1-0 in the series.<\/p>\n
The Rockets’ offense was nothing more than putrid in Game 1. They committed just 13 turnovers, but shot 38% from the field and 33% from three-point range. Meanwhile, the Lakers came into this red hot, posting 61-53-65 shooting splits. All five starters were in double figures, led by LeBron James and Luke Kennard.<\/p>\n
Durant’s absence was clearly the reason for this defeat, because Houston ran its offense through Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard. The two combined for 34 points on 13-for-38 shooting from the field. The Rockets’ other All-Star, Alperen \u015eeng\u00fcn, put up 19 points, eight rebounds and three assists, but committed three turnovers while shooting 6-for-19.<\/p>\n
The Rockets posted a 104.3 offensive rating<\/a>, way below their regular-season rating of 117.5, and those 82 games saw an incredible amount of inconsistency. Playoff basketball is a different animal, but Houston can’t lack this much on that end of the floor.<\/p>\n Durant missed Game 1 due to a knee contusion suffered during a practice last week. He’ll be a game-time decision for Game 2, but even if he’s on the floor, he won’t be 100%.<\/p>\n
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