HOUSTON, Texas – Kevin Durant delivered a clutch performance Thursday night, scoring 35 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 105-101 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. The win came amidst ongoing scrutiny surrounding allegations of a burner account linked to the 37-year-old star, a controversy he has largely deflected in recent days.
The Rockets, currently holding the sixth-best offensive rating in the NBA, needed the win to maintain momentum as they head into the final stretch of the season. Durant’s performance, which included 14 of 20 shooting from the field, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocked shots, proved decisive in a close contest. He scored 10 of his points in the fourth quarter, effectively sealing the victory for Houston.
The game unfolded against a backdrop of social media speculation that has dominated headlines since Sunday, when allegations surfaced linking Durant to an X account (@gethigher77) allegedly used to make disparaging remarks about teammates Alperen Şengün and Jabari Smith Jr., as well as former colleagues. The timing of the allegations coincided with Durant’s participation in the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles.
Durant addressed the controversy briefly at a Rockets practice on Wednesday, stating, “I’m not here to get into Twitter nonsense. My teammates know what It’s, we’ve been locked in the whole season.” He declined to confirm or deny ownership of the account, emphasizing the team’s focus on the remainder of the season. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has also remained largely silent on the matter, stating he avoids social media and prefers to concentrate on the team’s performance.
The allegations center around screenshots from a private group chat purportedly involving the @gethigher77 account. These screenshots, which have circulated widely on social media, reportedly contain critical comments about Şengün’s defensive abilities and include a derogatory term used to describe Smith Jr. The authenticity of the screenshots remains unverified.
Despite the distraction, Durant’s on-court performance against the Hornets served as a powerful statement. His ability to deliver under pressure, coupled with his statistical dominance – averaging 25.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists while shooting 51% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 88% from the free-throw line – underscores his continued importance to the Rockets’ success.
The Rockets face a challenging schedule in February, with six games in 10 days, including four road games. The team will look to build on Thursday’s victory as they navigate this demanding stretch. The Hornets, meanwhile, continue to struggle, and the loss further solidifies their position near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
The controversy surrounding the alleged burner account raises questions about the role of social media in professional sports and the potential for online anonymity to fuel conflict. While Durant has attempted to downplay the issue, the allegations have undoubtedly created a distraction for the Rockets as they pursue a playoff berth.
The situation also highlights the increasing scrutiny faced by professional athletes in the digital age. Every online interaction, even those intended to be private, is potentially subject to public exposure. This raises concerns about privacy and the potential for misinterpretation or manipulation of information.
Whether the controversy will continue to linger or fade into the background remains to be seen. For now, the Rockets are focused on basketball, and Durant is determined to let his performance on the court speak for itself. As he stated after practice, “We had a great practice today, looking forward to the road trip.”
The Rockets will continue their road trip with a game against an unnamed opponent on , before returning to Houston for two home games at the Toyota Center.
