Rockets lose to Durant-led Thunder by Three

Updated: 11:55pm
Posted: January 7, 2012 -- 11:50pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX – The Houston Rockets gave a much better effort Saturday night in Houston versus the Oklahoma City Thunder compared to the zombie-like effort displayed Friday night in Oklahoma City. Alas, Kevin Durant stepped his game up and denied the Rockets a victory. The Rockets were defeated by the Thunder 98-95 in front of an announced crowd of 14,327 fans.

With the game tied at 85, Durant made an 8-foot jumper at the 4:31 mark to give the Thunder an 87-85 lead. Goran Dragic, in his second consecutive start for an injured Kyle Lowry, tied the game at with 16-foot jump shot. Then, Durant drained a 3. By the end of the game, Durant had scored his team's final 13 points and outscored the Rockets 13-10 to hand the Rockets their sixth loss in eight games to start the season.

Ironically, Rockets' rookie forward Chandler Parsons did a good job defending Durant throughout the game. Durant made only six of 18 field goal attempts in the first three quarters.

"He (Durant) hit some ridiculously tough shots," Parsons said after the game. "A lot of times I was right there to contest; but, that's what makes him one of the best players in the game. You've just got to give credit to him."

Durant made 4 of 7 shots in the fourth quarter.

"This may sound funny, but late in the game I don’t care anymore (If I miss)," Durant said. I one time heard Robert Horry say that; and, that’s the way I’m going to look at it. I always wanted to be the guy to make big shots and now, I just let it happen."

Parsons started his first NBA game Saturday night and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Rockets' head coach Kevin McHale changed the starting five and inserted Parsons and center Samuel Dalembert into the starting lineup.

"I thought Chandler gave us great energy tonight," said McHale. "I thought that we would get Chase (Budinger) with that second unit more aggressive with some shots; and, use him a little bit more effectively, hopefully.

"We brought Sam in here to be our starting center," McHale added. "And, I thought it was time to start him."

The Rockets began the game with a woeful rebounding effort. The Thunder grabbed 16 of the game's first 17 rebounds. Sixteen to one. However, despite the poor rebounding effort, the Rockets trailed just 23-21 after the first quarter.

Budinger and Patrick Patterson led an inspired showing by the Rockets' bench in the second quarter. The Rockets' reserves scored 14 of the team's 25 points in the second quarter as well as grab seven of the nine rebounds. The Rockets won the board battle 9-6 in the second stanza.

The energy and effort continued into the third quarter; and, the Rockets led 72-60 with 2:38 remaining in the quarter. An unlikely source keyed a Thunder comeback.

Veteran big man Nazr Mohammed scored six of his 17 points during a 12-0 run as the Rockets big lead was erased. The game was tied at 72 heading into the fourth quarter.

Patterson, Parsons, Kevin Martin and Luis Scola took turns scoring in the fourth quarter and kept the Rockets close. Martin swished a three-point basket to put the Rockets ahead 83-82; but, OKC's James Harden followed Martin's 3 with a three-point play for an 85-83 lead. Scola tied the game at 85 before Durant took over.

The Rockets led 95-94 with less than 90 seconds remaining in the game. Patterson missed an open 20-foot jumper with 33.9 seconds left; and, after a Thunder timeout, Durant swished a 19-foot jump shot off a high pick-and-roll with Russell Westbrook.

After a full timeout, Scola passed to a wide open Parsons; but, Parsons missed his 3 point attempt.

"I just got to shoot the ball with confidence," said Parsons. "It was a great pass from Scola. It felt good."

Durant made two free throws and the Rockets trailed 98-95 with 7.4 seconds on the game clock. Goran Dragic received the inbound pass; drove to the basket; but, instead of scoring a layup, Dragic passed the ball over Scola's head for a turnover.

"It was a good play. I think Luis was open; but, I just didn't make the pass which is my fault," Dragic said after the game.

Dragic scored 20 points (7 for 10 from the field) and dished eight assists.

McHale said he would have been satisfied if Goran had scored the layup.

"Goran could have laid that one in and played the foul game one more time," McHale acknowledged.

The Rockets played with much more energy Saturday night; but, a win was not the end result.

"I think we really left it out there tonight," Parsons said. "We're going to win a lot of games if we play like that."

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