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Kevin Durant reacts during action as the Rockets receive a positive injury update ahead of Game 1 against the Lakers.
JJ Redick and the Los Angeles Lakers have the Houston Rockets right where they want them. With a 2-0 lead in the first-round series, the Lakers have the Rockets looking like the “dumbest” and “most selfish” team, according to the former NBA big man, Kendrick Perkins.
Heading into Game 2, the Rockets landed great news on the Kevin Durant front. The star center was cleared to make his playoff debut after suffering a knee contusion and missing Game 1.
At first, the Durant effect made a difference. He had 20 points at halftime. In the end, it didn’t matter. The Lakers made the proper defensive adjustments in the second half and slowed the superstar forward down.
The Lakers beat the Rockets 101-94.
Kendrick Perkins Goes Off On The Rockets
GettyCLEVELAND, OHIO – FEBRUARY 18: Kendrick Perkins attends the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game during the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend at Wolstein Center on February 18, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
“The Rockets are the dumbest team and the most selfish team in the postseason,” Perkins said on Get Up on Wednesday morning. “JJ Reddick is coaching his ass off so much that he’s coaching circles around Ime Udoka.
“We could blame Kevin Durant for those nine turnovers, but we could also blame Ime Udoka for having Kevin Durant in that position, knowing they are going to send two people at him every single time to double him.”
Kevin Durant returned to the court with a 40-minute shift on the table. He shot efficiently by going 7-12 from the field and knocking down all but one of his nine free throws, but his second-half scoring was almost nonexistent.
The star forward finished the game with 23 points. He turned the ball over nine times, which nearly broke his playoff career-high.
Outside of Durant, the Rockets landed a 20-point effort from their starting center, Aleperen Sengun. He shot 9-20 from the field and pulled in a double-double with 11 rebounds. Just like Udoka, Sengun caught heat from the former center.
“When are you going to get your big ass down and start playing some defense?” Perkins added regarding Sengun. “You’re the center now, there’s no Steven Adams. You’re going to at least try to protect the basket. What is going on with you?”
The Rockets Are Losing Control
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 17: Head Coach Ime Udoka of the Houston Rockets gestures against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half of a preseason game at Toyota Center on October 17, 2024 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Heading into the series, many analysts–including Kendrick Perkins–predicted a clear Rockets win. As Houston hit a 0-2 skid early on, the narrative is shifting. The Rockets are losing control and confidence heading home.
If the Rockets can’t bounce back in Game 3, they know their odds of making it out of the first round nearly flatline. While the Lakers deserve a ton of credit for their performance in the absence of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Rockets continued to hurt themselves on Tuesday. Now, they are catching heat for it.
Justin Grasso Justin Grasso is an NBA reporter, covering trending league news, transactions, injuries, and player developments. He is a credentialed journalist with nearly a decade of insider access. More about Justin Grasso
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