Over the past few weeks, the Houston Rockets found themselves in the kind of shooting funk that makes coaches pace and fans wince. Starting with their Jan. 3 game in Dallas, the Rockets went ice cold from deep - and not just by their own standards.
Over a seven-game stretch, they shot a staggering 24.6% from three-point range, the worst mark in NBA history over that span (minimum 200 attempts). When the shots don’t fall, the wins usually don’t either - and sure enough, Houston dropped five of those seven games.
That slump was especially jarring considering where this team had been just a few weeks earlier. Through their first 31 games of the season, the Rockets were one of the league’s most dangerous perimeter teams, knocking down threes at a 40.0% clip - second-best in the NBA. That hot shooting helped fuel a 21-10 start and had Houston looking like a real threat in the Western Conference.
But Friday night against Minnesota, something finally shifted - and it might be just what the Rockets needed to snap out of their shooting daze. Houston hit 12-of-28 from beyond the arc (42.9%), and Kevin Durant looked every bit like the future Hall of Famer he is, pouring in a season-high 39 points while going 6-of-8 from deep. It wasn’t just a bounce-back performance - it was a statement.
“Pregame, I was so focused on just going through my whole process on my 3s,” Durant said after the win. “Not rushing, keeping my follow through up.
I just try to duplicate that same performance in the real game. So, yeah, I was conscious of it.
I knew I was struggling from three the last few games, and I wanted to turn it around. My goodness, man.
It felt great.”
Durant’s been solid from deep this season overall - 39.0% - but during that seven-game slump, his numbers dipped to 28.3%. For a player of his caliber, that’s a noticeable drop, and it clearly didn’t sit well with him. Friday’s performance was a reminder of what he can do when he finds his rhythm.
The win also had real implications in the standings. The Rockets, now 24-15, are sitting in the No. 5 spot in the West, just behind the Timberwolves at 27-15.
If the playoffs started today, that would be a first-round matchup - and with home-court advantage hanging in the balance, every win matters. Friday’s result pulled Houston a little closer in what’s shaping up to be a tight race.
Next up, the Rockets return home to face the struggling New Orleans Pelicans (10-34) on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m.
Central, and fans can catch the game on the Space City Home Network or NBA League Pass. Given how dominant Houston has been at Toyota Center - boasting a 13-3 home record and shooting 38.5% from three there - this could be a prime opportunity to keep the momentum rolling.
For comparison, the Rockets are just 11-12 on the road, where their three-point percentage dips to 36.0%.
Reed Sheppard, who chipped in with a sharp-shooting night of his own (4-of-6 from deep), echoed the team’s confidence despite the recent struggles.
“Any time the ball goes in, the game’s a lot easier. It’s a lot more fun,” Sheppard said. “But the last thing I’m worried about with this group is the shooting ability.”
“We’ve been in the gym a lot, and I’ve seen these guys shoot. Everyone on the team can shoot extremely well.
That’s basketball sometimes. You’re going to make and miss shots.
Unfortunately, we’ve been missing a lot, but I have no doubt that will turn and we’ll get on a roll.”
If Friday night was any indication, that roll might already be starting.