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HOUSTON, TX - MAY 14: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against the Houston Rockets in Game One of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 14, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 14: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against the Houston Rockets in Game One of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 14, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)Bill Baptist/Getty Images

Mike D'Antoni: Rockets 'Can Withstand' Kevin Durant After 37 Points in Game 1

Mike ChiariMay 15, 2018

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni suggested Monday after a 119-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals that his team can afford to yield big performances to Kevin Durant.

Durant scored a team-high 37 points in Game 1, but D'Antoni had greater concerns, according to ESPN.com's Chris Haynes:

"He is 7 feet and falling away. He's one of the best scorers ever, right? So I thought he was extremely good. But we can withstand that. We can't withstand turning the ball over, missing layups, them getting out.ย Klay Thompsonย got up 15 [three-pointers]. We can't give him 15 threes. We're switching everything and staying off for that reason, so we have to clean up some stuff and see if we can do it on Wednesday."

Despite Durant's big game, D'Antoni praised those who were tasked with attempting to slow him down:ย "KD's going to be KD, and he'll be really good. I thoughtย PJ [Tucker]ย did all he could do.ย Trevor [Ariza]ย did all he could do. I thoughtย Clint [Capela]ย guarded pretty well. So he's that good."

To D'Antoni's point, many of Houston's wounds were self-inflicted in Game 1.

The Rockets turned the ball over more (13-9), had fewer assists (24-18) and shot worse from the free-throw line (15-of-21 vs. 22-of-25).

Durant bailed the Warriors out on numerous occasions when possessions broke down, much like James Harden did for the Rockets.

While Durant and Harden (41 points) essentially canceled out, Durant received more help from his supporting cast. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 46 points compared to Chris Paul and Capela going for 35.

Golden State was moreย efficient too, shootingย 52.5 percent from the field andย 39.4 percent from three. Houston, meanwhile,ย made 45.9 percent of its field-goal attempts and 35.1 percent of its threes.

Houston will likely need to do better against Durant, who averaged just 23 points per game in the Rockets' two wins over the Warriors during the regular season.ย In Golden State's lone regular-season win against Houston, Durant didn't play.

The Rockets will host Golden State on Wednesday in Game 2 in desperate need of a win before the series shifts to Oakland, California.

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