Durant’s 3-pointer in final seconds gives Rockets 100-97 win over the Suns

In different games, OKC are handed 2nd consecutive nonaccomplishment arsenic Clippers edged Warriors contempt Steph Curry’s 27 points.

Kevin Durant nailed a 3-pointer ‌with 1.1 seconds remaining, and the Houston Rockets rallied for a 100-97 ‍win implicit ‍the visiting Phoenix Suns to unafraid the four-game play series.

Durant was 1-for-11 from down the arc earlier sinking the game-winner and capping his 26-point show connected Monday.

Jabari Smith Jr, who chipped successful 17 ⁠points and 7 rebounds and was instrumental successful helping Houston erase a 13-point second-half ​deficit, assisted connected the Durant 3-pointer.

Durant added 10 rebounds and ‍four assists to his ledger portion Amen Thompson chipped successful 17 points, 7 rebounds and six assists. The Rockets changeable conscionable 9-for-37 from down the arc (24.3%).

Devin Booker paced the ‍Suns with 27 ⁠points and carried a 10-0 tally that erased a 94-87 shortage successful the 4th quarter. Dillon Brooks and Royce O’Neale scored 15 points each for the Suns.

Phoenix carved retired their largest pb aboriginal successful the 3rd 4th erstwhile Booker fed Mark Williams for an alley-oop earlier Brooks followed a Houston backcourt turnover with a 3-pointer, and Booker added ​a pull-up jumper that stretched the vantage to 69-56.

But ‌Durant and Thompson, aided by a brace of Smith 3-pointers, pulled the Rockets adjacent successful a 78-78 deadlock entering the last period.

Clippers bushed Warriors contempt Curry’s precocious flurry

Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard led the mode with ‌24 points, Kobe Sanders chipped successful with 20, and the Los Angeles Clippers ‍overcame the lack ‍of James Harden to clasp disconnected the visiting Golden State Warriors, 103-102.

Leonard completed a double-double with a game-high 12 rebounds, and Ivica Zubac had 1 of his ain with 10 points and 11 rebounds ⁠for the Clippers, who learned earlier the crippled that Harden would beryllium held retired with ​a stiff shoulder.

Stephen Curry utilized a precocious flurry to pb each ‍scorers with 27 points, and Jimmy Butler III had 24 for the Warriors, who saw manager Steve Kerr ejected aboriginal successful the 4th fourth aft drafting 2 method fouls for vehemently disputing a non-call connected ‍a imaginable goaltending ⁠infraction by the Clippers.

Stephen Curry drives to the handbasket for the Golden State Warriors against the LA Clippers astatine the Intuit Dome successful Los Angeles [Adam Pantozzi/Getty Images via AFP]

Hornets daze OKC Thunder

Brandon Miller scored 28 points to assistance assistance the Charlotte Hornets to a stunning 124-97 roadworthy ‌victory implicit the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The nonaccomplishment marked OKC’s archetypal regular-season location decision against an Eastern Conference hostile since March 2024, and their archetypal nonaccomplishment versus an Eastern squad successful a year. It was besides the ‍first clip OKC were held to little than 101 points this season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 points connected 7-of-21 shooting, portion Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren managed 16 and 15 points, respectively. The Thunder changeable 59.1% from the tract successful the archetypal 4th earlier finishing astatine 37% for the game.

Charlotte’s astonishment triumph was their archetypal against OKC since March 2023. Miller’s dominance was bolstered by Kon Knueppel’s 23 points and 5 3-pointers, arsenic good arsenic Miles Bridges’ 17-point, 11-rebound double-double. Moussa Diabate besides had a team-high 12 boards. In addition, the Hornets finished a season-high 51.4% from beyond ⁠the arc.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Charlotte Hornets [Joshua Gateley/Getty Images via AFP]

Brown helps Nuggets down Sixers

Bruce Brown was credited ‌with the decisive bucket with 5.3 seconds near successful overtime arsenic short-handed Denver topped Philadelphia.

The Nuggets were without 7 of their apical 8 scorers and each 5 starters, but Jalen Pickett picked up the slack with a career-high 29 points. Brown besides made a captious publication erstwhile helium drew a goaltending telephone connected Joel Embiid connected ‌a modulation layup attempt.

Embiid led the Sixers with 32 points and 10 rebounds, portion Tyrese Maxey scored 28 and VJ Edgecombe dropped ⁠17. Philadelphia had its three-game winning streak snapped with the loss.