In an overtime win over Orlando, Houston’s All-Star duo of Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun combined for 65 points and several massive buckets late.
HOUSTON — In the finale of a three-game homestand at Toyota Center, the Rockets showed a flair for the dramatic in Sunday’s 117-113 overtime victory (box score) over the Orlando Magic.
Houston (9-3) has now won nine of its last 10 games, while Orlando (7-7) had its three-game winning streak snapped.
After trailing for most of the game, and by as many as 14 points, Houston stormed back late in regulation amid brilliance from the All-Star duo of Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun.
Durant and Sengun each hit tying shots in the final 25 seconds of regulation, including Sengun’s hook shot with 0.2 seconds left to send the game to overtime.
Durant then hit a decisive mid-range shot with under 10 seconds left in overtime, putting the Rockets up by three. Because Houston then chose to foul in the closing seconds, the Magic were never able to attempt a potential tying shot.
Final statistics for key players were as follows:
Kevin Durant: 35 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds; 13-of-24 shooting (54.2%), 7-of-7 on free throwsAlperen Sengun: 30 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks; 11-of-31 shooting (35.5%), 8-of-10 on free throws (80.0%)Jabari Smith Jr.: 10 points, 10 rebounds; 4-of-9 shooting (44.4%), 2-of-4 on 3-pointers (50.0%)Amen Thompson: 12 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists; 4-of-13 shooting (30.8%)Reed Sheppard: 16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists; 6-of-11 shooting (54.5%), 2-of-4 on 3-pointers (50.0%), +19 in 29 minutesSteven Adams: 3 points, 13 rebounds; 1-of-8 shooting (12.5%)Aaron Holiday: 10 points in 16 minutes; 3-of-4 shooting (75.0%), 2-of-2 on 3-pointers and free throwsFranz Wagner (Magic): 29 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals; 8-of-21 (38.1%), 3-of-8 on3 -pointers (37.5%), 10-of-13 free throws (76.9%)Desmond Bane: 26 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds; 9-of-20 shooting (45.0%), 6-of-6 on free throws
After putting up 45 attempts from 3-point range in Friday’s win over Portland, the Rockets only had 20 (making eight, or 40%) in regulation and overtime on Sunday. Relative to many of Houston’s opponents, Orlando was more willing to defend Sengun and Durant individually, and that lack of help defense led to fewer open 3-pointers for teammates.
But when it mattered most, Houston’s All-Star duo was able to make enough plays to get the Rockets to a “gutsy win,” as head coach Ime Udoka called it postgame.
With the homestand complete, Houston now heads out for a tough road game on Wednesday night versus the Cavaliers (9-5). Tipoff from Cleveland is at 6:00 p.m. Central, and the matchup will be televised regionally on Space City Home Network and nationally via ESPN and NBA League Pass.