Houston Rockets Hold Off Washington Wizards Behind Another Great Night From Kevin Durant

Monday night at Capital One Arena was supposed to be just another quiet loss for the Washington Wizards. Business as usual for a team that has turned losing into something of an art form. Instead, it turned into a full-blown circus — complete with ejections, a mini-brawl, and a four-time All-Star getting tossed from a game before he ever played a single minute for his new team.

The Houston Rockets didn’t just beat Washington. They embarrassed them, 123-118, in a game that felt even more lopsided than the score suggests.

How the Rockets Took Control Early

Houston didn’t waste any time. Alperen Sengün was absolutely dominant in the first half, dropping 19 points before halftime. Washington had no answer. Not even close.

To be fair to the Wizards, they were a little shorthanded. Anthony Davis (finger sprain), Alex Sarr (hamstring strain), Anthony Gill (illness), and Tristan Vukcevic (thigh contusion) were all watching from street clothes. Washington was so thin up front that they turned to Julian Reese and handed him his NBA debut at center.

He scored his first career NBA bucket during a 10-0 Wizards run in the third quarter. That’s a feel-good moment in an otherwise rough night. The Rockets, meanwhile, were playing with a full deck. And they played like it.

Bilal Coulibaly Was the One Bright Spot For Washington

Before we get to the chaos, let’s give credit where it’s due. Bilal Coulibaly was sensational. He finished with 23 points, a season high, and knocked down five three-pointers, a career high. In three minutes late in the first half, he caught fire and hit three straight triples that briefly made this game feel competitive.

Kyshawn George also started hot, opening 3-for-4 from the field with 8 quick points. Unfortunately, George took a hard screen and left in the third quarter with a left elbow sprain, and that was the last Washington fans saw of him.

The Wizards made 19 of 35 three-point attempts. On most nights, that kind of shooting performance wins you a game. On this night, it just made the loss look slightly more respectable on paper.

The Rockets Benefited From Washington’s Chaos

Three straight Wizards turnovers opened the door for the Rockets to push its lead to 16 points in the third quarter. That should have been the knockout blow. Washington rallied, cutting it back down, and for a moment, you could almost convince yourself this game was interesting. Then things got weird.

Tari Eason shoved Jamir Watkins. Twice. A scuffle broke out. Eason collected two technical fouls in rapid succession and was ejected. Watkins picked up a technical foul of his own. Benches got involved. Emotions ran high.

Trae Young Gets Ejected Before Playing a Single Minute As a Wizard

This is the part of the story that nobody saw coming. Trae Young, the four-time All-Star acquired from the Atlanta Hawks, has been recovering from MCL and quad injuries and hasn’t played since December 27. He was supposed to make his Wizards debut Thursday against the Utah Jazz. Monday was meant to be a quiet night on the bench.

Instead, Young ran onto the court during the altercation. Officials assessed him a technical foul and ejected him immediately. His Washington stat line now reads: zero minutes, zero points, one ejection.

He took to social media shortly after, reacting to the whole ordeal with the energy of a man who absolutely could not believe what just happened to him. There is now a real possibility Young could serve a suspension for Tuesday’s game, which means his Wizards debut could be pushed back even further.

A player who is this eager to compete that he gets himself ejected before he even plays? You have to respect the passion, even if the timing was spectacularly bad.

What This Result Means For the Rockets and Wizards

For the Rockets, this was another statement win. Houston continues to prove it is a legitimate threat in the Western Conference, and Sengün continues to make every opposing big man look like they’d rather be somewhere else entirely.

For Washington, the loss dropped them to 16-44 on the season. They have now lost five games in a row. With Young and Anthony Davis both in the fold for next season, the future isn’t as bleak as the current record suggests. But right now? It’s rough.

The good news is that Reese got his first NBA bucket, Coulibaly reminded everyone he belongs in this league, and Young is apparently so ready to play that he literally couldn’t stay on the bench.