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Kevin Durant made history, but the Rockets’ late-game flaws turned a statement night into a costly collapse.

Star forward Kevin Durant continues to climb the NBA’s all-time ladder, but even a historic milestone couldn’t cover up the Houston Rockets’ biggest issue: late-game execution.

On a night that saw Durant pass Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki for eighth on the NBA’s all-time field goals list, he also moved closer to Shaquille O’Neal. However, the Rockets walked away with a stunning 110-108 overtime loss to a short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves team. More importantly, the defeat revealed cracks that could define Houston’s postseason ceiling.

Durant’s Historic Night Ends With Frustrating Finish

Durant’s production told a familiar story. The 37-year-old finished with 30 points, eight assists, and three rebounds. He continues to average 25.9 points on 52.0% shooting this season.

He found his rhythm late and delivered timely buckets as Houston stormed back from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit. However, the ending flipped the narrative. With the Rockets holding a 13-point lead in overtime, the game looked finished. Instead, Minnesota responded with a stunning 15-0 run over the final 2:50. That marked the largest overtime comeback in the play-by-play era.

This collapse wasn’t random, but rather it exposed a pattern. According to NBA.com, the Rockets are 19-22 this season in clutch games. These are defined as the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime with a margin of five points or less.

In March alone, Houston has played five games decided by five or fewer points, going 3-2 in those contests. After the game, Durant pointed to the core issue.

“Missed shots to be honest, not knocking down shots and turning the ball over,” Durant said. “Late in the game, if we don’t make a shot, teams can be more aggressive and be in the paint… they got comfortable sitting out in the paint for us.”

Turnovers and Offensive Stagnation Remain Issues

Durant didn’t deflect responsibility. He pointed directly at his own mistakes. He finished with six turnovers and missed two free throws that could have tied the game.

“Then I turned it over six times and missed that free throw,” Durant admitted. “I really believe we lost because I missed that free throw… to be honest.”

Still, the issue extends beyond one performance. The Rockets are one of the highest-turnover teams in the league. They are tied for the fourth-worst mark with the Washington Wizards at 15.7 turnovers per game. That flaw has followed them all season.

It also explains why there was interest in adding a veteran point guard. Names like Spencer Dinwiddie and Chris Paul were floated as stabilizing options but nothing ever came of it. Instead, Houston enters the final 10 games still dealing with the same problems. With the playoffs approaching, those mistakes could prove costly for a young and unproven roster built around Durant.

Rockets’ Playoff Positioning Now Under Pressure

At 43-29, Houston remains in the playoff mix. However, the margin for error is shrinking fast. They now sit 3.5 games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the third seed. Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets and Timberwolves continue to close the gap. With just 10 games remaining, every late-game possession carries added weight. Right now, that’s the concern.

Durant’s milestone reinforces his greatness. At the same time, it highlights Houston’s reality: they have a closer, but not always control. If the Rockets want to secure home-court advantage and make a real playoff push, they must clean up the issues Durant outlined. Because in the postseason, games like this end seasons.