Kevin Durant sent a clear message to the NBA after the Houston Rockets torched the Boston Celtics 128-101 on Saturday night.
Going into the matchup, Houston had a 2-2 record. They lost their first two games of the season before bouncing back with two convincing victories over Brooklyn and Toronto.
The Rockets kept the momentum going despite being on the road. They took control of the game during the first quarter and never let go, blowing out the Celtics in dominant fashion.
In 30 minutes of action, Durant had an excellent display. He finished with a stat line of 26 points, four rebounds, two steals, one assist, and a block. He shot 8-of-11 from the field, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line.
Durant reflected on the win after the game during a postgame interview on the broadcast. It was there where he praised the team's depth and made a strong statement on their potential.
“When we’re clicking on all cylinders like that, we’re tough to stop,” Durant said.
“When we’re clicking on all cylinders like that, we’re tough to stop.”@KDTrey5 on the team’s versatility and depth after a 27-point win over the Celtics 👏@SpaceCityHN | #AllFire pic.twitter.com/YPwyCBHRBd
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) November 2, 2025
How Kevin Durant, Rockets played against Celtics
Kevin Durant and the Rockets are starting to gain a winning rhythm as they improved to a 3-2 record after blowing out the Celtics.
Houston lit up Boston's offense in the first quarter, outscoring them 37-24. That was all the momentum the visitors needed to continue growing their lead while keeping the hosts' attack in check.
Shot accuracy, 3-pointers and rebounding made clear differences in this matchup. The Rockets flourished in all these categories, making 54.5% of their total shots while securing 53 rebounds and knocking down 19 triples. It wasn't even close for the Celtics, shooting just 38.8% overall while grabbing 36 rebounds and converting 14 shots from deep.
Seven players scored in double-digits for Houston, including Durant. Alperen Sengun delivered a solid performance of 16 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, two blocks, and a steal. He shot 5-of-13 overall, including 1-of-3 from downtown, and 5-of-7 from the charity stripe. Amen Thompson came next with 17 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Meanwhile, Jabari Smith Jr., Josh Okogie, Tari Eason, and Reed Sheppard scored 12 points each.
The Rockets will look forward to their next matchup, being at home. They host the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. ET.
