For the first time this season, there was reason to smile in Houston. After back-to-back heartbreaks against Oklahoma City and Detroit, the Rockets finally broke through on Monday night, and they did it in emphatic fashion. As Kevin Durant faced his former team, the Rockets dismantled the Nets, 137–109, earning their first victory of the 2025–26 NBA campaign.
The game carried extra emotional weight. It marked Durant’s first meeting as a Rocket against the team he helped define, and his new one finally found rhythm. Before a packed Toyota Center crowd, Houston dominated across the board, hitting 57.6% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc while posting 33 assists. Seven different players scored in double figures, a testament to the team’s renewed offensive flow.
Rockets Fans Taste Sweet Victory as Durant Faces Former Team
Few needed a bounce-back night more than Tari Eason, and he delivered in spectacular fashion. After averaging just 3.5 points on 27.3% shooting through the first two games, Eason erupted for 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists off the bench in just 26 minutes.
He set the tone early, knocking down five of seven three-pointers, including back-to-back triples during Houston’s 15–0 first-quarter run. By halftime, he had already scored 20 points, and his energy helped ignite a Rockets offense that had looked stagnant in the season’s opening stretch.
Eason’s performance was precisely what Houston needed: a reminder of the depth and versatility of its young core. For head coach Ime Udoka, who has emphasized patience amid early growing pains, it was validation that the Rockets’ second unit can be a legitimate weapon.
Durant and Sengun Lead the Way
While Eason’s hot shooting drew cheers, Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun provided the stability. Durant, facing his former team, finished with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, showcasing efficient midrange play and strong ball movement before sitting out most of the second half due to the lopsided score.
Sengun, meanwhile, bounced back from a sluggish showing against Detroit, posting 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting, along with two made threes. His interior presence complemented Durant perfectly, forcing Brooklyn’s defense to collapse and opening the floor for shooters.
For Houston, the Durant–Sengun duo continues to develop chemistry that could define the team’s offensive identity. Durant’s leadership and Sengun’s evolving versatility are proving to be a potent combination; one capable of dictating tempo and creating mismatches across the court.
Sheppard Shines, Team Basketball Returns
Rookie guard Reed Sheppard also had his best night in a Rockets uniform, recording 15 points, eight assists, and four rebounds. His confidence and court vision steadied the team’s offense, earning a standing ovation after back-to-back threes in the fourth quarter extended the lead to 120–91.
The win marked the kind of complete team effort Houston had been searching for. Amen Thompson, who had battled cramps in the previous game, contributed solid minutes, while Josh Okogie and Clint Capela provided key defensive stops to keep the Nets from mounting a comeback.
Brooklyn, still winless at 0–4, struggled to contain Houston’s pace and ball movement. Terance Mann led the Nets with 21 points, but the visitors were overwhelmed on both ends, conceding 42 first-quarter points and never fully recovering.
The win lifted Houston to 1–2 on the season and offered a glimpse of what this roster can be when everything clicks: fluid, unselfish, and dangerous from every angle.
A Sweet Start to a New Era
For Rockets fans, this night felt symbolic. Not only did it bring the first win of the Durant era, but it also came against the team where his career took one of its most turbulent turns. Now, wearing Houston’s red and black, Durant looked at peace: smiling on the bench, cheering for his teammates, and playing a part in a victory that felt like a turning point.
As the Rockets prepare to visit Toronto on October 29, there’s finally optimism in the air. The offense is taking shape, the defense is tightening, and the team’s chemistry is building with each game.
Durant’s game against the Nets may have been circled on calendars for emotional reasons, but it ended as something far more important: a statement that these Rockets are learning, growing, and ready to make noise in the West.
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