Kevin Durant explains why he was ‘rouge’ on Amen Thompson

Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant clarified why did he become a “rogue” during a key possession late in the game involving a teammate Amen Thompson in the team 117–113 overtime win over the Orlando Magic last week. Durant reflected on the moment during an appearance on Up & Adams with Kaye Adams, explaining the decision that has been making the rounds on social media.

Durant’s comments came in response to a question from Adams about a sequence in which Thompson came up to set a screen, only for Durant to wave him off to isolate against Orlando second-year forward Tristan da Silva in a one-on-one situation.

“Once I get ruddy like that. We’re a new team, this is our first 15 games between us. They haven’t seen me ruddy that often. You know I’m ruddy,” Durant said. “But at the end of the game, kind of, at that point, it was like, okay, now I get it. K’s just going to take him off the dribble. So he’s getting it now. And there’s going to be times when he’s just going to be like, ‘I got it.’

Durant finished with 35 points, six assists, five rebounds and a block while shooting 13-for-24 and 7-for-7 from the free throw line over 45 minutes. Thompson added 12 points, 10 rebounds and two assists in 39 minutes, contributing to strong defense and activity inside while shooting 4-for-13.

Rockets trio on the rise as Kevin Durant prepares to return to Phoenix

Houston carried that momentum into its final stretch, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 114–104 on Wednesday to extend its winning streak to five games and improve to 10–3. The surge has been fueled by Durant’s scoring and shooting, Thompson’s defensive versatility and playmaking, and the continued rise of Alperen Sengun.

Durant, in his first season with the Rockets, has assumed a leadership role on a roster that has been rebuilt based on his experience and complemented by Sengun’s expanded responsibilities and Thompson’s growth. A late-game sequence against Orlando highlighted how the group is still learning each other’s preferences as they settle into their early-season identities.

Houston continues his Friday night’s NBA Cup schedule when they host the Denver Nuggets (11–3) at 9:30 PM ET on Prime Video. That matchup precedes a challenging four-game road trip with multiple storylines surrounding Durant’s past.

The trip begins Monday with Durant’s first return to Phoenix since being traded from the Suns in a seven-team offseason deal. Phoenix enters at 9–6. On Wednesday, the Rockets will travel to face the Golden State Warriors (9–8) at 10:00 PM ET on ESPN, marking another reunion for Durant, who has won two championships in three seasons with the franchise.