Starting lineups

Rockets: 

Kevin Durant

Amen Thompson

Steven Adams

Jabari Smith Jr. 

Alperen Segun

Pistons: 

Cade Cunningham

Duncan Robinson 

Jalen Duren 

Tobias Harris

Ausar Thompson

In a fiery foul-ridden matchup on Saturday, the Rockets played against the Detroit Pistons in Houston for their home opener. Spectators watched more free throws and reviews than they did actual play time. The entire game was stop-and-go, and it seemed like every other possession led to a whistle. 

The night was expected to be far more electric- Kevin Durant’s home debut, and the Thompson twins face-to-face for the first time this season. Instead, the game became a test of patience. The crowd, the coaches and the players were visibly frustrated with constant stoppages killing the rhythm.

The Rockets went 29-12 in home games last season- one of the best records in the league- but struggled to find any flow this time around. Constant fouls and reviews Created a choppy, unpredictable pace. Detroit refused to ease up defensively, forcing Houston to pivot and draw fouls just to keep pace. 

By halftime, several Rockets starters were already in foul trouble, including Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, and Jabari Smith Jr. Houston had taken 27 free throws by the break but missed nine of them, which would ultimately cost them the game.

Of the 56 personal fouls called, 32 were on Detroit. Houston made 37 of the 48 attempts at the line- a third of their total points.

In the second half, tempers flared. Momentum shifted when Jalen Duren elbowed Amen Thompson moments after an earlier altercation, earning Duren a flagrant foul and ejection from the game. Soon after, Houston’s coach Ime Udoka was hit with a technical foul of his own for arguing with officials over a call on Smith that was later downgraded to a personal.

Detroit’s physicality continued to frustrate Houston, playing what Udoka called “bully ball,” especially in the paint. Both teams struggled offensively, which isn’t surprising with two defense-first coaches. Houston shot well below the average mark at just 38.6-percent from the field. The Pistons finished at 46.7-percent and ultimately escaped with a 115-111 win, leaning on aggressive defense and free throws down the stretch.

While Detroit’s offense looked less refined, turning the ball over 18 times, their defense dictated the game’s pace from start to finish. The lesson here for Houston is that composure and execution matter just as much as grit, even at home.