The Lakers, continuing to shape a defensive identity, turned up the pressure on Kevin Durant in the fourth quarter Monday — and the approach swung the game against Houston.
Los Angeles consistently sent double-teams at Durant late, forcing the ball out of his hands and bogging down Houston’s offense. The results were costly, and Durant didn’t deflect blame afterward.
“I’m the offense”
“I just felt like I lost the game for us tonight,” Durant said, putting the responsibility on himself as the Lakers’ coverage intensified.
Durant’s comments underscored both his central role in Houston’s attack and the impact of the Lakers’ late-game defensive scheme. With Los Angeles committing extra defenders to Durant, Houston struggled to generate clean looks and maintain rhythm when it mattered most.
The loss left Durant focused on what he could have done differently against the double-teams, emphasizing that as the focal point of the offense, he has to manage those situations more effectively.