Rockets' Kevin Durant admits he 'lost the game' in loss to Lakers The Houston Rockets suffered a crucial setback against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night, dropping them further behind L.A. in the race for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. The Lakers now hold a 1.5-game lead over Houston, which has struggled in its last 10 games with a 5-5 record. The Rockets also trail the Nuggets and Timberwolves by a half-game for the No. 4 spot in the West. The loss was attributed to a stagnant offensive performance by Houston, with Kevin Durant taking full responsibility for the team's struggles. Durant, who finished with just 18 points and seven turnovers, admitted he felt like he single-handedly cost the Rockets the game. "I just felt like I lost the game for us tonight," Durant said after the contest. "It's that simple. Of course we probably could make more 3s, but it's on me. I mean, to be honest, I'm the offense and the opposing team is going to use all their resources and not let me get comfortable." Durant’s uncharacteristic performance was marked by his inability to score efficiently in the second half, where he managed just two points. The Lakers’ defensive strategy of using two defenders to guard him throughout the game disrupted Houston’s rhythm. Despite Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson combining for 41 points, the Rockets couldn’t overcome the challenge. "First half, I got comfortable in iso, comfortable coming off of pindowns, pick-and-rolls, and they decided not to let me get comfortable no more," Durant explained. "So I got to be smarter, better with the ball.#los_angeles_lakers #kevin_durant #houston_rockets #alperen_sengun #fred_vanvleet
