The Houston Rockets handled the Cleveland Cavaliers like it was practice, rolling to a 117–100 win Saturday night in their first game back home after a long, frustrating road trip. Kevin Durant poured in 30, Jabari Smith Jr. went a hyper-efficient 6-for-9, and Reed Sheppard buried four threes- all while Houston held one of the league’s best three-point shooting teams to just 11 makes on 36 attempts.

Cleveland’s biggest mistake? Letting Durant operate without consistent doubles. And it cost them early and often.

Advertisement

With Alperen Şengün sidelined due to a calf issue, the Rockets could’ve stalled offensively. Without his other half on the floor, Kevin Durant walked into the Toyota Center ready to pick up any scoring slack and came out swinging. Durant went 5-for-7 in the first, notching 14 points within a 19-4 Houston run. The lead stretched to 12 before the first frame closed at 32-24 Rockets.

Steven Adams started in Şengün’s stead and his physicality controlled the paint all night, and he flirted with a double-double, finishing with nine points and eight rebounds, and posted a game-high +26.

The Cavaliers came in averaging nearly 44-percent from deep, but Houston’s perimeter defense erased that advantage quickly. After Cleveland knocked down their first three,they missed eight straight. By halftime, the Cavs were just 6-for-21 from outside, while the Rockets had already built a double-digit lead.

Advertisement

Cleveland briefly made things interesting in the second quarter, cutting the lead to two, but Tari Eason squashed their run in no time. Houston entered the break up 60-46.

Durant had 23 points and five assists on 8-for-10 shooting. Sheppard already had two threes and four steals. The Rockets forced 11 turnovers and turned them into a massive advantage, outscoring Cleveland 22-7 in points off turnovers.

Defensively, Houston dominated. Cleveland managed just four offensive rebounds in the first half, while the Rockets controlled the glass 30-17 overall. Even with Houston turning the ball over at a similar rate, the Cavaliers simply couldn’t capitalize.

Advertisement

Cleveland finally started doubling Durant in the third quarter- but it was far too late. A quick 9-2 Houston run extended the lead to 19, and the game effectively ended there. Sheppard drilled his third and fourth threes, Smith continued his efficient night, and the Rockets defense turned suffocating. By the end of the third, Houston led 90-63.

In the final twelve minutes, Houston’s defense never let up, stretching the lead to as many as 26. The Rockets reminded everyone that maintaining a lead is a defensive job, not an outshooting mission.

Final tally: Durant finished with 30 on nearly 65-percent shooting, Sheppard added 18, and Adams controlled the interior. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland’s starters with just 16 points, while Tyson was the lone Cav to find any rhythm off the bench.

Saturday night marked Houston’s fifth straight win over Cleveland- and a reminder that when the Rockets defend like this, the rest usually follows.