Kevin Durant’s arrival was expected to cure Houston’s scoring woes, but the Rockets’ offense remains stagnant two games into their first-round series with the Lakers.
Rockets still searching for points
After sitting out Game 1 with a knee issue, Durant returned Tuesday and logged 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting, yet Houston fell again, 102-89. The star forward faced constant double-teams and matched his playoff career high with nine turnovers.
Despite taking 44 more shots than Los Angeles across the two contests, the Rockets have been outscored by 16 and have yet to reach 100 points. Alperen Şengün is 15-for-39 from the field, Jabari Smith Jr. is 12-for-30, and rookie guard Reed Sheppard has converted just 6-of-24 attempts.
“I’m just missing so many easy shots,” Şengün said postgame. “I need to dominate the paint … help KD a little bit and make my teammates better. I’m not missing from long distance; I’m missing from under the rim.”
Houston hit only 7-of-29 threes on Tuesday (24.1 percent). Sheppard, the team’s best regular-season perimeter shooter, logged 11 minutes as head coach Ime Udoka limited him over defensive concerns. Free-agent signee Dorian Finney-Smith is still working back from offseason ankle surgery, and second-year wing Tari Eason followed a 7-for-7 opener with a 4-for-14 effort in Game 2.
Capela reacts to Ayton comparison
When Lakers center Deandre Ayton said earlier this season that Los Angeles was “trying to make me Clint Capela,” the remark surprised the Rockets’ veteran big man. “I don’t know why I’m in someone else’s head,” Capela told The California Post. “I did what I did for my team, had a lot of success. It worked out for me.”
Pelicans undergo large staff shake-up
New Orleans has at least 25 open positions across basketball and business operations, including seven on the medical and performance team. League source Shamit Dua reports the vacancies stem from an organizational restructuring and from staffers departing after the season amid uncertainty about contract renewals.
In a separate offseason preview, Yossi Gozlan suggested the Pelicans explore frontcourt upgrades and consider building around young guards Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears while evaluating trade options for several veterans.
Grizzlies plan Summer League reps for Coward
Second-year forward Cedric Coward is expected to join Memphis’ Summer League roster following a promising rookie campaign, according to The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Other young Grizzlies are also candidates to participate, though names were not specified.
Source: Hoops Rumors
