Houston Rockets have gone from being the second best team in the league to getting overtaken by four other contenders. Now accusations of the team having internal problems are being thrown after the team lost a second straight game that they should be winning with Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun spending the last quarter on the bench.
Rockets are now 17-10 after going 4-6 in their last 10. Five of these six losses include defeat to the worst teams in the Western Conference – Los Angeles Clippers which is the latest one, Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz, and Dallas Mavericks.
The last one versus the Clippers is being put into microscope as they were beaten badly by a team that is struggling heavily this season. KD and Sengun did not play a 4th quarter second at all when they entered it 16 point down.
KD said he has no problem with Udoka’s decision.
Kevin Durant says he was not surprised to be benched in the 4th.
“I trust coach (Ime Udoka) with everything he does.”
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) December 24, 2025
Kevin Durant points out poor defense
What’s ailing the Rockets lately? The two-time champion pointed out their aggressiveness and defense.
“We weren’t very good on the defensive side of the ball. They got tough shotmakers, and we scrambling a lot,” he told reporters after the game.
“They made threes. . . . They haven’t been hitting shot lately so law of averages. . . . They made some tough ones and made some open ones, too.”
He concluded by saying that these losses will only make them better.
“These losses are going to make us better.”
–Kevin Durant after the #Rockets 128-108 loss to the Clippers. Houston falls to 1-4 on the road trip. Next up the Lakers in LA on Christmas Day pic.twitter.com/ynIshFh7oh— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) December 24, 2025
The usually stifling Rockets defense failed to stop Kawhi Leonard and James Harden who combined for 70 points.
KD had 27 in the loss while Sengun and Amen Thompson both had 19.
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