Reed Sheppard and Kevin Durant really hurt the Magic

Would the Rockets have won this game in Orlando without Reed Sheppard ? Probably not because, by the third quarter, the playmaker was non-existent and his team was largely dominating. After the break, he finds space and can finally express himself behind the arc. He made three 3-pointers in the third quarter alone and it was he who lit the fuse for Houston’s 21-0 lead that allowed them to get back into the game.

“As soon as we can score some points, it’s fun, especially when we get back into the game like we did”, comments Reed Shepard, who would then add two game-winning shots in the closing moments, would seal the win for Houston and finish with 20 points on 5-of-7 3-point shooting, including 17 in the second half.

In addition to valuable points and shots, the leader also stole two balls and blocked two shots, including a three-pointer by Desmond Bain, the Magic’s best player in this game, at the start of the fourth quarter.

“He did some really good things on both ends of the court. Even if he made 3-pointers, he was decent defensively.”Ime Udoka insists. “When we started to switch defenses and he got on Desmond Bain, he stayed in front of him and contested some shots very well.

https://vvv.youtube.com/vatch?v=iJ5TGv6nEKI

If Reed Sheppard lit the fire to spark the Rockets’ comeback, Kevin Durant was responsible for nutrition. The night didn’t get off to the best start for the winger, who missed five of his first six shots.

He then returned to his standards, scoring 26 points in the second half, including his only two 3-pointers in the final quarter. So he collected 40 units, his new season high, with 14/28 on the shooting.

With this exit, “KD” also exceeded 32,000 points in his career. Another 287 points, or about ten games, will surpass Michael Jordan, which will take him fifth place in the ranking of the best scorers in NBA history.

“It’s amazing. I love having my name mentioned with the greatest of all time. They set a standard that I try to live up to on a daily basis.”slipped from MVP in 2014.

https://vvv.youtube.com/vatch?v=CuEMUV-9lHg

Kevin Durant				Percentage			Rebounds
Saison	The team	MJ	Min	Shots	3pts	LF	Off	Def	That	Pd	Ft	Int	Bp	Ct	Pts
2007-08	OKC	80	34:36	43.0	28.8	87.3	0.9	3.5	4.4	2.4	1.5	1.0	2.9	0.9	20.3
2008-09	OKC	74	38:59	47.6	42.2	86.3	1.0	5.5	6.5	2.8	1.8	1.3	3.0	0.7	25.3
2009-10	OKC	82	39:30	47.6	36.5	90.0	1.3	6.3	7.6	2.8	2.1	1.4	3.3	1.0	30.1
2010-11	OKC	78	38:57	46.2	35.0	88.0	0.7	6.1	6.8	2.7	2.0	1.1	2.8	1.0	27.7
2011-12	OKC	66	38:35	49.6	38.7	86.0	0.6	7.4	8.0	3.5	2.0	1.3	3.8	1.2	28.0
2012-13	OKC	81	38:30	51.0	41.6	90.5	0.6	7.3	7.9	4.6	1.8	1.4	3.5	1.3	28.1
2013-14	OKC	81	38:33	50.3	39.1	87.3	0.7	6.7	7.4	5.5	2.1	1.3	3.5	0.7	32.0
2014-15	OKC	27	33:49	51.0	40.3	85.4	0.6	6.0	6.6	4.1	1.5	0.9	2.7	0.9	25.4
2015-16	OKC	72	35:48	50.5	38.7	89.8	0.6	7.6	8.2	5.0	1.9	1.0	3.5	1.2	28.2
2016-17	GS	62	34:32	53.7	37.5	87.5	0.6	7.6	8.3	4.8	1.9	1.1	2.2	1.6	25.1
2017-18	GS	68	34:11	51.6	41.9	88.9	0.5	6.4	6.8	5.4	2.0	0.7	3.0	1.8	26.4
2018-19	GS	78	34:38	52.1	35.3	88.5	0.4	5.9	6.4	5.9	2.0	0.7	2.9	1.1	26.0
2020-21	BKN	35	33:03	53.7	45.0	88.2	0.4	6.7	7.1	5.6	2.0	0.7	3.4	1.3	26.9
2021-22	BKN	55	37:13	51.8	38.3	91.0	0.5	6.9	7.4	6.4	2.1	0.9	3.5	0.9	29.9
2022-23	BKN	39	35:58	55.9	37.6	93.4	0.4	6.4	6.7	5.3	2.4	0.8	3.5	1.5	29.7
2022-23	PHO	8	33:38	57.0	53.7	83.3	0.4	6.0	6.4	3.5	0.9	0.3	2.5	1.3	26.0
2023-24	PHO	75	37:13	52.3	41.3	85.6	0.5	6.1	6.6	5.0	1.8	0.9	3.3	1.2	27.1
2024-25	PHO	62	36:32	52.7	43.0	83.9	0.4	5.7	6.0	4.2	1.7	0.8	3.1	1.2	26.6
2025-26	NEW	53	36:40	50.7	40.9	88.1	0.5	4.9	5.4	4.5	2.0	0.8	3.2	0.9	25.9

How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.