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NBA teams with most pressure in 2025-26<\/p>\n
Breaking down which NBA teams are under the most pressure to win going into the 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n
Kevin Durant<\/a> was everything the Houston Rockets<\/a> wanted throughout most of his debut with the team while taking on the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> on Tuesday, Oct. 21.<\/p>\n Durant helped lead the Rockets in a double-overtime thriller<\/a> against the Thunder, but fell short in the final seconds of the 125-124 loss<\/a>.<\/p>\n He finished 23 points, nine rebounds and three assists for Houston in 47 minutes of play.\u00a0<\/p>\n Durant also shot 9-of-16 from the field, but went 0-for-4 from the three-point line, turned the ball over four times and recorded six fouls.<\/p>\n Kevin Durant’s overtime mishaps<\/p>\n Durant’s last foul came in the final seconds of the second overtime period shortly after he produced a third assist of the night, dishing the ball to Alperen Sengun<\/a> with 11 seconds left.<\/p>\n It would’ve been the game-winning bucket, but Durant played the dangerous game of fouling reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> and sending him to the line, where he sealed the game.<\/p>\n It was the seventh time that Durant had fouled out of a game in his NBA career.<\/p>\n The overtime period was not kind to Durant, showing that even a veteran could make some mistakes under pressure.<\/p>\n He slipped up trying to call a timeout at the end of the first overtime period<\/a> when Houston didn’t have one left, but the referees didn’t call it. While it didn\u2019t cost the Rockets the game, it did lead to some trolling on social media<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kevin Durant appeared to call a timeout at the end of the first overtime. Houston was out of timeouts and the ref did not call it.<\/p>\n A whistle would have resulted in two free throws for OKC. pic.twitter.com\/OhCitnuwJa<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 22, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Kevin Durant begins a new journey with Rockets<\/p>\n Whether Durant had his mind set on playing the spoiler against his former team on Oklahoma City’s \u201cring night\u201d and banner raising ceremony<\/a>, he contributed to Houston\u2019s scoring output with 14 of his 23 points coming in the first half.<\/p>\n Durant joined the Rockets in the offseason after he was at the center of a seven-team trade. Earlier this week, he agreed to a two-year, $90 million contract extension with the Rockets<\/a>, according to ESPN. The deal was expected to include a player option for the 2027-28 season.<\/p>\n The future Hall of Famer has now spent time with five different organizations during his 18-year career, including the Thunder.<\/p>\n Durant, who played collegiately at the University of Texas, scored just two points in the early minutes of his NBA debut with a Texas-based team before finishing out the opening quarter with eight points, while hearing boos from the OKC fan base that once cheered him.<\/p>\n And Durant had some fun with the fans before tip-off, playfully echoing the booing crowd.<\/p>\n \u201cWalking onto the court, at the hotel, walking around town, every time I come here, it’s just so much love and respect,” Durant told reporters<\/a> after the game. “People are always telling me they appreciate my time here. And I feel the same way.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s part of the brand of OKC to boo me when my name gets introduced, but I think it’s all love after that.\u201d<\/p>\n He sat out a chunk of the second quarter before entering the game at the midway point to extend the Rockets’ lead, scoring back-to-back jumpers to put his total at 12 points with 2:15 left in the second quarter.<\/p>\n Durant and the Rockets will regroup on Friday with their home opener against the Detroit Pistons<\/a> on Friday, Oct. 24.<\/p>\n Kevin Durant stats<\/p>\n The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
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