In a night filled with veteran star power, Kevin Durant proved once again why he’s one of the most unguardable players in NBA history. Even in his 19th season – and his debut campaign with the Houston Rockets – the 37-year-old superstar dropped a classic highlight that had social media buzzing: sending Anthony Davis, one of the league’s premier defenders, to “crossover school” with a silky hesitation dribble before gliding into the paint for a bank shot and drawing the foul for an and-one.
The play happened midway through the first quarter in Saturday night’s showdown between the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks. Durant, facing up against AD – no slouch himself as a multi-time All-Defensive team member – pulled out his signature handles. A quick crossover left Davis stumbling, and KD effortlessly slipped inside for the finish. It was vintage Durant: smooth, efficient, and downright disrespectful in the best way possible. Fans on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook lit up with reactions – “KD at 37 cooking AD like it’s 2014!” and “Slim Reaper still feasting!” were just some of the viral comments.
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) controls the ball during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.
But basketball games aren’t won on highlights alone. Despite Durant’s masterful performance, the Rockets fell short on the road, losing 110-104 to the Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. It was a frustrating defeat for Houston, who entered the game riding a four-game winning streak and sitting comfortably in playoff contention early in the 2025-26 season.
The game got off to a disastrous start for the visitors. Just over a minute in, star center Alperen Şengün went down with a sprained right ankle after an awkward landing on a rebound. He was ruled out for the rest of the night, leaving the Rockets severely shorthanded in the frontcourt. Already without backup big man Steven Adams (also dealing with an ankle issue), Houston had to lean heavily on smaller lineups and perimeter play. That early blow disrupted their rhythm, allowing Dallas to dominate the paint (outscoring Houston 66-54 inside) despite the Rockets’ impressive 17 offensive rebounds leading to a 15-0 edge in second-chance points.
Durant did everything he could to keep the Rockets afloat. He finished with a game-high 34 points on 14-of-26 shooting (including 2-of-7 from three and 4-of-5 from the line), while adding 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Notably, he played the entire second half with four personal fouls – a testament to his veteran poise and unwillingness to let his team down. Young guns stepped up in Şengün’s absence: Amen Thompson delivered a strong double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds, Tari Eason contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, and Clint Capela chipped in 8 points with 8 boards. But Houston’s shooting woes – just 38.7% from the field and a dismal 10-of-41 from beyond the arc – proved too much to overcome.
On the Mavericks’ side, Anthony Davis answered Durant’s highlight with a dominant two-way performance of his own: 26 points, 12 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 3 assists. Max Christie exploded for 24 points, knocking down 4-of-6 threes, providing the timely scoring punch Dallas needed to snap their own four-game skid.
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) passes the ball past Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) during the first quarter at American Airlines Center.
With the loss, the Rockets drop to 21-11 on the season, still holding strong at the fourth spot in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. They’re tied with the Los Angeles Lakers, just one game behind the Denver Nuggets and 2.5 games back of the San Antonio Spurs. It’s a solid position for a team integrating a legend like Durant into a young, talented core – but nights like this serve as a reminder that depth and health will be key in the grueling West.
Houston now heads home looking to bounce back quickly. They’ll host Kevin Durant’s former team, the Phoenix Suns, on January 5 at 8 p.m. ET. Expect the Rockets faithful to pack the Toyota Center, ready to see KD and company get back on track. If Saturday’s highlight is any indication, Durant still has plenty of magic left – and when the Rockets are at full strength, this team could be dangerous come playoff time.
What did you think of KD’s crossover on AD? Drop your reactions below – is Durant still a top-10 player in Year 19?