Kevin Durant totaled 22 points and 11 assists against one of his former teams as the Houston Rockets pulled away in the third quarter for a 120-96 wire-to-wire victory over the short-handed Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night in New York.
Amen Thompson made 10 of 12 shots and led Houston’s potent offense with 23 points, including 12 in the third when the Rockets outscored the Nets 37-25 en route to their fourth straight win.
Durant, who was a Net from 2019-2023, made 8 of 15 shots, including two 3s in the final minutes to finish it off. Durant also had 10 assists for the first time since Dec. 29, 2023 when he was with Phoenix.
Alperen Sengun added 20 after sitting out the previous two games with a minor calf injury. Tari Eason contributed 15 while Jabari Smith Jr and Reed Sheppard chipped in 14 apiece.
The Rockets shot 57.3% and made 12 of 29 3-point attempts (41.4%) while outrebounding the Nets 45-27.
The Nets lost their second straight after winning seven of 10 and played without three starters.
Michael Porter Jr. (illness), rookie Egor Demin (back) and Terance Mann (hip) were held out of the game and Brooklyn struggled offensively throughout.
Reserve Cam Thomas led the Nets with 21points and Ziaire Williams added 14 in place of Porter. Noah Clowney and Nic Claxton chipped in 11 each, but Brooklyn shot 44.7% and made only 10 of 30 3-point tries.
The Nets also allowed 23 points off 13 turnovers and were 18-for-30 from the free-throw line.
The Rockets made their first seven shots, took a pair of 11-point leads and held a 26-20 advantage through the opening quarter. Durant scored 10 points in the second, including a thunderous dunk late in the quarter and Houston held a 53-42 lead at halftime.
Houston made five 3s in the opening four-plus minutes of the third and Smith’s corner 3 off a feed from Durant opened a 74-49 lead with 7:52 left.
–Field Level Media
