Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets faced the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center tonight and lost a nail-biting matchup, 111-116, after leading by 11 points late in the third quarter. The 38-year-old Durant finished with 28 points, five rebounds, and one assist, shooting 9-for-20 from the field (45.0% FG) and 1-for-6 from three (16.7% 3P).

Despite leading all scorers for the Rockets, it was clearly an off night for the superstar, as some crucial shots and free throws did not fall like they usually do. Following the game, Kevin Durant spoke to the media and candidly reflected on tonight’s performance.

“I’d say we missed shots. I think we got a lot of good looks. I think we could’ve blown the game open; we missed two or three wide-open threes. I missed one, Bogey, Smart, I think; wide-open looks to go up 12-13 points would have changed the landscape of the game,” Durant said.

“But that’s just how basketball is; you’re not going to make them at all times. You’ve got to give credit to Dallas; they played a poised game all the way through when they were down 10. They were up early; we took the lead back, but they just kept grinding, man.”

“So it’s one of those old slughouse type games where you got to appreciate both teams for coming out there with that energy tonight,” Durant further added.

“They were making tough shots. I mean, that last shot and the last few shots, you just have to tip your hat to them. They’re great players. Especially that one over the spin, fade, and jump shot. It was a tough shot, and you have to give them credit,” Kevin Durant said on what Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving did to make the Rockets’ lives tougher.

“But I just feel like I missed too many shots in the fourth quarter. That’s why we lost. Free throws, too,” Durant said as he took some accountability for the loss.

“They did have too many transition points. We gave up 75 points and 72 points or something in the second half, which is uncharacteristic. But they’re shot-makers. As an NBA player, you’re going to have nights when you’re cold as hell, and nights like tonight when they knock down some tough shots.”

“They made some tough ones, and we also gave them some open ones. That combination worked well for them. But I still like the process. We stuck to some principles we’ve been preaching all year. We got back into the game and got more shots up than them.”

“We didn’t turn the ball over. We might have forced more turnovers, too. I don’t know for sure, but it was pretty even in that regard. We got a lot of looks. They were just more efficient than us. It was just one of those games. I think both teams played hard. They just made more shots toward the end,” Kevin Durant concluded.

Tonight was an uncharacteristic night for the Rockets, who deeply missed the offensive output of Alperen Sengun and Reed Sheppard’s three-point shooting.

The Rockets are now 5-1 and second in the Western Conference standings. They now face Kevin Durant’s former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, tomorrow night (October 31). The result of that game could determine whether the Rockets simply had an off-night tonight or whether they have a red flag they need to address.