By Tom Orsborn, Staff Writer / San Antonio Express-News, 2026-10-23 12:06:09
休斯敦火箭队前锋凯文·杜兰特（左）在休斯敦的一场NBA常规赛上半场防守圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋维克托·文班亚马（1号），摄于2026年1月28日，星期三。（美联社图片/阿什莉·兰迪斯）
奥斯汀——当被问及休斯敦火箭队与他们在这条10号州际公路上的宿敌之间的长期对决时，未来名人堂成员凯文·杜兰特 (Kevin Durant) 特别指出了马刺队的全面性、阵容深度，当然，还有他们的超级巨星维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama)。
“他们能成为卫冕西部冠军是有原因的，”杜兰特在两队周五晚展开本赛季四次交手中的首场对决前说道。
“他们是一支阵容深厚的球队。他们在五号位上拥有踏上球场的最独特球员之一（文班亚马）。而且他们的队里还有很多能制造杀伤的球员。他们拥有身高6英尺6英寸的控球后卫迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper)，还有（全明星后卫）达龙·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox)。他们拥有一套几乎在场上无所不能的阵容。更重要的是，他们打着快节奏的篮球，疯狂投三分：这就是现代篮球体系，同时还融合了一位7英尺5或6英寸、能够（远投）的大个子（文班亚马）。
“所以这会非常艰难。摆在我们面前的任务很艰巨，但这正是NBA赛季令人着迷的地方。你很早就迎来了这些考验，我们非常期待。”
凯文·杜兰特在今晚于奥斯汀举行的火箭对阵马刺比赛前，谈到了维克托·文班亚马如何能够继续进化自己的比赛 https://twitter.com/Spurs_Nation/status/2113681545257263257/video/1
— Spurs Nation (@Spurs_Nation) 2026年10月23日
同样，马刺队也认为防守杜兰特将是一项艰巨的任务，此前他们在周三晚目睹了杜兰特狂砍30分，带领火箭队在两队的新赛季揭幕战中以128-110轻取达拉斯独行侠队。
“正如他在第一场比赛中所展现的那样，他依旧状态火热，”马刺队主教练米奇·约翰逊 (Mitch Johnson) 谈及杜兰特时说道，“他丝毫没有放慢脚步，这证明了他付出的努力、他的充分准备，以及他多年来在休赛期所做的一切。看他打球真是一种享受。”
马刺和火箭要到1月26日才会再次碰面，届时两队将在弗罗斯特银行中心交锋，该场比赛已定为NBC的全美直播。
两队本赛季的最后两场交锋将分别于3月5日和3月16日在休斯敦举行。
周五晚的比赛是杜兰特职业生涯第二次在奥斯汀客场对阵马刺。2006-2007赛季，他曾作为德克萨斯大学的大一新生在此大放异彩，随后西雅图超音速队在2007年NBA选秀大会上用榜眼签选中了他。
2025年2月20日，在穆迪中心进行的一场比赛中，效力于菲尼克斯太阳队的杜兰特拿下22分，最终太阳队以109-120不敌马刺队。
“那是一段完美的经历，”现年38岁的杜兰特谈及自己在长角牛队的时光时说道，“虽然时间很短暂，但我认为那一年我在这里留下的影响持续了很久。而这个社区对我人生产生的影响，更是让我终身受用。这就像是我的基石。我高中毕业的第二天，就独自一人来到了德州。那一整年我都待在这里。没有朋友，没有家人。我必须在这里结识身边的每一个人。
“所以我在那里成长，对自己有了更深入的了解，在（里克·）巴恩斯教练和他的教练组身上学到了传奇般的执教理念，并且是在一座我来之前一无所知的伟大城市里。一切都发展得如此完美。”
由生成式 AI 翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
查看原文：Rockets' Kevin Durant eyes challenging matchups with Spurs
Rockets’ Kevin Durant eyes challenging matchups with Spurs
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, left, defends against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
AUSTIN — Future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant pointed to the Spurs’ versatility and depth, and, of course, superstar Victor Wembanyama, when asked about the long-term matchup between the Houston Rockets and their Interstate 10 rivals.
“They’re reigning Western Conference champions for a reason,” Durant said before the teams squared off Friday night in the first of four meetings between the clubs this season.
"They’re a deep team. They got one of the most unique players that ever touched the floor at the center position (in Wembanyama). And then they got plenty more guys on their team that can wreak havoc. They got a 6-foot-6 point guard, Dylan Harper, and (All-Star guard) De’Aaron Fox. They just got a line up of guys that can do pretty much a lot of things on the floor. And then they’re playing fast-paced basketball shooting threes: The new modern era basketball mixed with a 7-5, 7-6 guy (Wembanyama) who (can shoot from distance).
“So it’s going to be tough. We got our work cut out for us, but that’s an amazing part about the NBA season. You get thrown into these tests early on and we’re looking forward to it.”
Kevin Durant speaks on how Victor Wembanyama can continue to evolve his game ahead of the Rockets-Spurs game in Austin tonight https://twitter.com/Spurs_Nation/status/2113681545257263257/video/1
— Spurs Nation (@Spurs_Nation) October 23, 2026
The Spurs, likewise, believe they will have their hands full defending Durant after watching him pump in 30 points as Rockets coasted to a 128-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.
“As he showed in game one, still flying high,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said of Durant. “He hasn’t slowed down and it’s a testament to the work he’s put in and his preparation, all he’s done in the offseason for a lot of years now. And it’s a joy to watch.”
The Spurs and the Rockets don’t meet again until Jan. 26 when they square off at the Frost Bank Center in a game set for national television on NBC.
The final two meetings between the teams will be in Houston on March 5 and March 16.
Friday night’s game marked the second time Durant has faced the Spurs in Austin, where he starred for Texas as a freshman in 2006-2007 before the Seattle SuperSonics made him the the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
Durant scored 22 points with the Phoenix Suns in a 120-109 loss to the Spurs on Feb. 20, 2025 at the Moody Center.
“It was just a perfect partnership,” Durant, 38, said of his time with the Longhorns. "Even though it was a short amount of time, I think the impact I had here in that one year was felt for a while. And then the impact that this community had on my life has been felt for the rest of my life. This is like my foundation. The day I graduated high school, the next day I came to Texas by myself. I was here for that whole year. No friends, no family. I had to meet everybody here.
“So I grew up, learned a lot about myself, learned some legendary coaching with coach (Rick) Barnes and his staff in a great city I had no clue about until I got here. So everything worked out perfect.”
By Tom Orsborn, Staff Writer / San Antonio Express-News