In his 17th season in the league, Kevin Durant is still proving his case as one of the deadliest scorers of this generation, ushering the Houston Rockets to a 113-108 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday action in the NBA.
The Slim Reaper dialed 40 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals en route to Houston’s third straight win.
“We kept the ball in front. That’s the formula for us, we hold them to one shot, keep the ball in our hands… We put ourselves in good shape,” Durant said postgame.
Durant Makes History as Rockets Rally
Despite being down by as much as 19, KD and the Rockets ignited a 21-0 run in the third quarter to regain the lead.
Durant, who had his first 40-piece of the season, also passed Kobe Bryant for most 30-point games in league history and entered the illustrious 32,000 career scoring list.
Houston guard Reed Shepperd also contributed 20 points off the bench, including a dagger fadeaway three in the dying seconds to seal the win.
Desmond Bane Paces Magic in Loss
Despite the loss, Orlando still shot a respectable 45% from the field, led by Desmond Bane, who dialed 30 points and 6 threes, while Paolo Banchero flirted with a triple-double, notching 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists.
The Magic still remain in the hunt for a playoff spot with a 31-27 record, as they currently sit in the seventh seed and are only one and a half games behind the Philadelphia 76ers.
Orlando will try to return to the win column when they face the Eastern Conference powerhouse Detroit Pistons on Monday, while the Rockets will look to sustain momentum when they face the Miami Heat on Sunday.
