Kevin Durant reflected on his 39-point performance as the Houston Rockets edged the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-105 on Friday at the Toyota Center. “Felt great. When I pregame, I was focused on going through my whole process on my threes, not rushing, keeping my follow-through up, and I just tried to duplicate that performance in the game,” Durant said.
The Rockets star acknowledged recent shooting struggles but emphasized mental focus. “I knew I was struggling from the three the last few games and I wanted to turn that around. Sometimes missing open shots takes a toll mentally, but defensively we’ve still been there,” he said.
Durant credited his teammates for helping generate better looks. “Ime [Udoka] was talking about the quality of shots being there. Reed was the reason we got going, hitting three threes in a row and giving us energy. That opened the three-point line for me as well,” Durant explained.
The veteran also praised Sheppard’s impact off the bench. “Reed doesn’t take away from what we’re doing; he adds another dimension. His quick trigger forces the defense to switch and gives us more space,” he said.
Alperen Sengun’s hustle was another highlight for Durant. “That sequence where Alp took it to Gobert, dove on the floor for the loose ball, and finished at the rim opened the game up. It gave us momentum and separation, and inspires everybody on the team,” Durant said.
Durant also reflected on his place in NBA history, now 21 points away from sixth on the all-time scoring list. “It’s crazy. I look up to so many players who set a blueprint and standard. I’m just trying to reach it and keep showing up every day like they did,” he said.
Houston overcame a late Minnesota run led by Julius Randle, who scored a season-high 39 points, and Naz Reid added 25 with 10 rebounds off the bench. Randle got the Timberwolves within two points with under a minute remaining, but Durant’s late free throws sealed the win.
The Rockets, now 24-15, will host the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, while the Timberwolves visit the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. Durant emphasized that energy and execution remain key for Houston moving forward. “When guys are playing their game and being themselves, it lights a fire in all of us,” he said.
