Durant Sends a Clear Message to the NBA: “We’re Hard to Stop”
Houston, led by a dominant Kevin Durant, crushed the Celtics and sent a clear message to the NBA: they’re no longer an experiment—they’re a real threat
The night in Boston left a mark. Not so much because of the score – a lopsided 128–101 win for the Houston Rockets – but for the feeling that Kevin Durant and his teammates have decided to make themselves heard.
After a shaky start to the season, Ime Udoka’s team dominated one of the East’s top contenders, making it clear to the rest of the league: these Rockets are no longer a work in progress, but a team capable of beating anyone.
In just 30 minutes on the floor, Durant delivered an efficient and commanding performance: 26 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block, shooting a remarkable 8-for-11 from the field and 8-for-9 from the line.
Yet more than the numbers, what stood out was the tone after the game. In his post-game interview, Kevin Durant summed up the team’s mindset with a sentence that sounded like a warning:
When we’re running at full speed, we’re really hard to stop
Kevin Durant
A direct message – no bravado, just the authority of someone who’s seen and won it all.
A Team Growing Together
Houston’s win was a collective statement. Seven players scored in double figures, showcasing an offensive balance few teams can match, combined with a defensive solidity built possession by possession.
Alperen Sengun came close to a triple-double (16 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists), while young Amen Thompson added 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists, proving his growing maturity. Smith Jr., Okogie, Eason, and rookie Reed Sheppard each contributed 12 points, playing their parts to perfection.
The numbers tell the rest of the story: 54.5% shooting, 19 threes made, and 53 rebounds grabbed. The Celtics, on the other hand, shot just 38.8% and struggled both inside and beyond the arc.
Houston’s Statement
After dropping their first two games, the Rockets have found rhythm and confidence, stringing together three straight wins – over Brooklyn, Toronto, and now Boston. The TD Garden performance was the most convincing yet – not only because of the margin, but because of how Durant and company dictated the game from the opening quarter (37–24).
Next, the team heads home to host the Dallas Mavericks in a Texas showdown that promises fireworks. One thing’s clear: if Houston keeps growing at this pace, the NBA will have to take notice of a strong, self-assured new power in the West.