4 days ago
2
Kevin Durant has his defining moment as a Houston Rocket.
In Houston's 100-97 win over the Phoenix Suns, Durant got the ball with 5.1 seconds on the clock and nailed a game-winning three-pointer to give the Rockets the win over his former team. It was his first game-winner with Houston since they acquired him in a summer blockbuster from Phoenix.
Advertisement
Amen Thompson said watching Durant's game-winner was "the best moment I've had as a Rocket," high praise considering Thompson hit a game-winner of his own against the Boston Celtics last season. With Durant's latest game-winner, he not only impressed his teammates but also earned yet another NBA record.
Coming through in the clutch
Durant now has the most go-ahead three-pointers in NBA history in the final five seconds of a game. It's a fitting record for the future Hall of Famer to have, considering his reputation as one of the league's best closers. While it was already a memorable shot for Durant, as it came against his former team, it holds even more weight as a shot that earned him another NBA record in a career full of them.
Advertisement
It's also worth noting that Durant was just 1-for-11 from the three-point line before his game-winner, a testament to the confidence from both his team and himself to take the last shot. Houston has struggled to get Durant the ball in late-game situations this season, and as a result, its record in clutch games has suffered.
The Rockets are just 7-9 in those games, one of 10 teams in the league with a below-.500 win percentage in that category. While Houston's late-game offense still has room for improvement, Durant's record-breaking game-winner is a positive sign that the Rockets are trending in the right direction.
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Houston's Kevin Durant sets NBA record with latest game-winning three
English (US) ·