Durant Surpasses Nowitzki as Rockets Defeat Pelicans
HOUSTON (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 18 points, moving into sixth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, while Jabari Smith Jr. marked a season-high with 32 points, leading the Houston Rockets to a 119-110 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night.
Strong Contributions from Rockets
Alperen Sengun added 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds, with Amen Thompson scoring 20 points as Houston secured its third win in four games.
Pleading Struggles for Pelicans
Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with 21 points on 7-for-15 shooting, while Zion Williamson contributed 20 points and six rebounds. Derik Queen scored 15 points for the Pelicans, who have now lost four out of five games and 13 of their last 15 outings.
Durant’s Milestone Moment
In a crucial moment with 15.2 seconds left, Durant stepped to the free throw line needing just one point to surpass Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki, who holds 31,560 career points. The 15-time All-Star successfully made both free throws, earning a standing ovation from the home crowd. He now has 31,562 career points, while Michael Jordan sits in fifth place with 32,292 points.
Memphis Triumphs in London
LONDON (AP) — Ja Morant bounced back with 24 points and 13 assists, leading the Memphis Grizzlies to victory over Orlando in the first NBA regular-season game in London since 2019. Jock Landale added 21 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 17 points, helping Memphis avenge a prior loss to Orlando in Berlin on Thursday.
Dominance from the Grizzlies
The Grizzlies built a significant lead, leading at one point by 33 points. Despite a late surge from Orlando, Memphis managed to maintain control to finish the game. Anthony Black led the Magic with 19 points, with Wendell Carter Jr. contributing 18 points and 7 rebounds.
Other Game Highlights
In other matchups, Luka Doncic scored 25 points for the Los Angeles Lakers, who defeated Toronto. In Chicago, Coby White had 24 points as the Bulls narrowly split a home-and-home set against the Brooklyn Nets. Meanwhile, in Denver, Charlotte’s Brandon Miller led his team to a win over the injury-riddled Nuggets.
