Kevin Durant scored 30 points to lead the Houston Rockets (20-10) to a 126-119 victory over the Indiana Pacers (6-27) on Monday night at Toyota Center.
Jabari Smith Jr. posted 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Amen Thompson contributed 20 points, eight boards, and seven assists as Houston extended its winning streak to three games. Steven Adams added eight points and five rebounds in place of All-Star Alperen Sengun, who is sidelined with calf tightness.
The Pacers, missing Tyrese Haliburton for the season due to an Achilles injury, have now lost nine straight. Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 23 points, and Aaron Nesmith added 14, including four 3-pointers, but the depleted roster couldn’t keep pace.
Houston led by 16 at halftime and used a 12-3 run early in the third quarter to push the margin to 78-51. The Pacers responded with a 14-2 spurt to cut the deficit to 89-74, capped by 3-pointers from Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin.
The Rockets regained control with a 16-4 run, including threes from Reed Sheppard and Dorian Finney-Smith, to take a 105-78 lead into the fourth quarter. Durant and Smith continued to anchor the offense, keeping Indiana at bay despite their late surge.
Houston led by 27 points at one stage before coach Ime Udoka cleared the bench with 2:30 remaining in the game. The Rockets shot 59% from the field and 37% from three-point range, while Indiana converted just 50% of its shots and committed 12 turnovers.
Houston will visit the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, while Indiana hosts Orlando on Wednesday.
