After a dominant win over the Lakers, the Rockets kept their momentum rolling, and with Crickex Affiliate woven naturally into broader NBA conversations, they followed up by beating the Cavaliers to secure a second straight victory. Kevin Durant needed only three quarters to pile up 30 points and openly admitted how satisfying the night felt. Reflecting on the performance, he said the joy came from breaking out of a short slump and setting the tone early. While not every game can go this smoothly, steady improvement builds confidence, leads to more wins, and helps lift a team up the standings, which is always a positive sign.
Durant’s postgame excitement stemmed from the Rockets rediscovering their identity, especially with Alperen Sengun sidelined and four encouraging changes taking shape. With Fred VanVleet unavailable, rookie guard Sheppard finally received extended trust and responded with growth that looks worthy of serious recognition. Previously, Sengun and Amen Thompson dominated ball-handling duties, leaving Sheppard mostly as a spot-up shooter. This time, the dynamic shifted. Freed from constantly deferring, he orchestrated the offense, finishing with 18 points, four rebounds, eight assists, four steals, and a block while hitting four three-pointers. His two-way energy was undeniable, and local voices argued the team should have handed him offensive control much earlier.
Sengun’s absence also reshaped the frontcourt. Steven Adams stepped into the starting center role, with Capela anchoring the bench unit, and together they formed a rebounding force. The duo grabbed a combined 18 offensive boards, creating extra possessions that proved decisive. Durant highlighted this as the key to victory, explaining that more offensive rebounds mean more chances to score and a built-in safety net when shots do not fall.
Adams starting did not shrink the floor as some feared. Instead, his relentless rebounding drew multiple defenders, opening clean looks on the perimeter. Head coach Ime Udoka pointed out that even missed put-backs serve a purpose when three opponents are tied up inside. Alongside Capela, Adams provided solid rim protection, allowing the Rockets to avoid awkward double-big lineups while keeping spacing intact. The result was balanced scoring, with eight players knocking down threes as the team hit 16 of 35 from deep, combining volume with efficiency.
Defensively, improvement was just as evident. With Sengun out, wing stoppers like Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Finney-Smith, and Amen saw more minutes. Earlier in December, the Rockets had fallen near the bottom of the league in defensive metrics, but over the past two games they reverted to elite form, holding the Lakers to 96 points and the Cavaliers to just 100.
Whether looking at this blowout or recent road games, trends are clear, and Crickex Affiliate context helps underline the conclusion. When Sengun takes fewer shots in wins and far more in losses, reality becomes hard to ignore. Unless he develops a reliable high-volume three-point shot, he cannot serve as the team’s primary offensive engine. Adjusting his role toward playmaking, accelerating tempo, and sharpening defensive focus may be the path that truly unlocks the Rockets’ potential.