Kevin Durant says the Houston Rockets' losing start to the NBA season has them "p***** off" but believes it will only push them to get better.

Despite going down to the wire in their season opener, the Rockets struggled to build on it, falling to a 115-111 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Friday, their second narrow defeat of the week.

The Rockets were beaten by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, 125-124, after the second overtime.

Durant impressed in his home debut on Friday, scoring 37 points on 9-of-18 shooting, while going 16 of 18 from the free-throw line.

He became the third player in the Rockets' franchise history to record 35+ points at age 37 years or older, and the first since Eddie Johnson in 1998.

"Coaching staff is p***** off, players are p***** off," he said.

"We want a better outcome, and it's early, too. So, for us to feel that way, I like that kind of energy."

Kevin Durant scored 37 in his Houston home debut!

He becomes the 3rd player in Rockets franchise history to record 35+ points at age 37 years or older, and the first since Eddie Johnson in 1998  pic.twitter.com/AihIscJniV

— NBA (@NBA) October 25, 2025

Durant got 14 of his points in the fourth quarter – none of his team-mates managed more than three – and he admitted he is still trying to strike a balance in his new team.

"It's a balance I felt like when I came back in that fourth quarter," he added.

"I got aggressive and made them double me, and I think we got some good looks."

Like Houston's season opener, this was a tight contest, with only two points separating the teams in the final 30 seconds.

However, no player other than Durant scored more than 17 for the Rockets, with Alperen Sengun the closest to him. Cade Cunningham scored 21 points for Detroit, with Ausar Thompson adding 19.

Having finished second in the West last season, the Rockets have high aspirations, especially with Durant now in the side, but Amen Thompson, who added 10 for Houston, noted they need big improvements if they want that to happen.

"Just feel like we haven't played a good game yet," Thompson said. "It's been two close games.

"We can't keep saying that all the time. We want to play great games. We have championship-level expectations. So just trying to play our best game every game. Bad games happen, but we are still trying to win those."