HOUSTON — In Friday\u2019s regular-season home opener at Toyota Center, Kevin Durant delivered exactly what Rockets fans were hoping for.<\/p>\n
In 37 minutes, the 37-year-old All-Star finished with a game-high 37 points and 3 steals while making 9-of-18 shots; all three of his 3-point attempts; and 16-of-18 from the free-throw line (88.9%).<\/p>\n
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Unfortunately, in a 115-111 loss (box score<\/a>) to the visiting Detroit Pistons<\/a>, the future Hall of Famer didn\u2019t have much help on the offensive end of the court.<\/p>\n Among Houston\u2019s recent first-round draft picks who are all 24 years old or younger, statistical lines included:<\/p>\n Alperen Sengun: 17 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers; 5-of-18 shooting (27.8%), 0-of-2 on 3-pointers<\/p>\n Amen Thompson: 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 turnovers; 2-of-8 shooting (25.0%), 6-of-10 on free throws (60.0%)<\/p>\n Jabari Smith Jr.: 11 points, 6 rebounds; 3-of-14 shooting (21.4%)<\/p>\n Reed Sheppard: 9 points, 3 steals, 3 turnovers, 1 assist; 3-of-11 shooting (27.3%)<\/p>\n Tari Eason: 4 points, 5 rebounds; 2-of-5 shooting (40.0%)<\/p>\n All-Star guard Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 21 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds, shooting 7-of-16 from the field (43.8%) and 3-of-8 on 3-pointers (37.5%).<\/p>\n As a team, the Pistons were dynamic from 3-point range at 16-of-39 (41.0%), and that easily outpaced Houston\u2019s 10-of-22 total (45.5%). Though the Rockets again started a large starting lineup<\/a> featuring two centers in Sengun and Steven Adams and two additional 6-foot-11 players in Durant and Smith, the Pistons actually outrebounded Houston for the game, 48-45.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Furthermore, many of Detroit\u2019s treys came versus Houston\u2019s zone defense, which Ime Udoka often runs to try and overcome the lack of agility in \u201cdouble big\u201d lineups.<\/p>\n The Rockets return to action Monday night with another home game versus Brooklyn, with tipoff from Toyota Center scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Central. That game will be televised regionally via Space City Home Network<\/a> and nationally through NBA League Pass.<\/p>\n More: Rockets, Reed Sheppard working to generate better shots for Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun<\/a><\/p>\n