Kevin Durant poured in 30 points in three quarters to lead the Houston Rockets (19-10) to a 117-100 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers (17-16) on Saturday at Toyota Center in Houston. Durant also added seven assists and four rebounds, resting in the fourth quarter with Houston ahead by 27 points.
The Cavaliers briefly cut the lead to 12 on a basket by Darius Garland with seven minutes left in the third quarter, but the Rockets responded with a 15-0 run, including a dunk from Durant. During the run, Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson received a technical foul, and Durant made the free throw. Jabari Smith Jr. capped the surge with a 3-pointer before Dean Wade scored for Cleveland, ending a four-minute scoring drought.
Houston took control early with a 12-2 run late in the first quarter, fueled by nine points from Durant, giving the Rockets a 28-16 advantage. Tari Eason and Smith helped spark an early 7-0 run that put Houston ahead 16-12, a lead they maintained for the rest of the night.
Reserve Jaylon Tyson led the Cavaliers with 23 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell contributed 16 points on 7-for-17 shooting, but Cleveland fell for the second straight game and lost five of their last seven.
Reed Sheppard added 18 points and eight assists off the bench for Houston, while Smith tied a career high with 15 points, marking his fifth consecutive game scoring at least 15. Steven Adams stepped in for Alperen Sengun, who missed the game with calf tightness, posting nine points and eight assists.
Houston shot 49% from the field, including 46% from three-point range, while Cleveland managed 43% overall and just 31% from deep. The Rockets outrebounded the Cavaliers 51-42 and dished out 27 assists, showcasing a balanced offensive effort.
The Rockets aim to continue their momentum when they host the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, while Cleveland will look to rebound in San Antonio on the same night.
