Kevin Durant scored a game-high 35 points, Alperen Sengun added a 30-point double-double, and the host Houston Rockets claimed a 117-113 overtime victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday.
Durant assisted on an Amen Thompson dunk with 51.8 seconds left that provided the Rockets a 111-110 lead before nailing a 12-foot pull-up jumper with 9.2 seconds left. Reed Sheppard (16 points off the bench) and Thompson (12 points, 10 rebounds) converted four free throws to seal the victory.
Sengun posted 30 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists. Sengun, Thompson, Steven Adams (13 rebounds), and Jabari Smith Jr. (10 points, 10 rebounds) all recorded double-digit rebounds for the Rockets, who produced a 60-38 advantage on the glass.
Franz Wagner led the Magic with 29 points while Desmond Bane added 26. Orlando played without starters Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs, both of whom were out with groin injuries.
Durant hit a 3-pointer with 2:49 left in regulation that gave the Rockets a 95-94 lead, their first since the 10:25 mark of the first quarter. His 3 with 21.9 seconds to go in the fourth pulled the Rockets even at 100-100, but when Durant lost his balance after receiving an inbound pass, Anthony Black (18 points) scooped up the loose ball and turned his steal into a dunk and 102-100 Orlando lead with 1.7 seconds left.
Sengun fouled Black on the play, but Black missed the subsequent free throw, setting the stage for Sengun to score with 0.2 seconds left and send the game into overtime knotted at 102-102.
Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. combined for 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting in the opening period and keyed a scorching start for the Magic, who shot 54.5% and drilled 5 of 9 3-pointers while leading by as many as 14 in the first quarter. Orlando fueled that surge by recording five blocks in the period and posting 11 fast-break points while taking a 30-23 lead into the second.
The Rockets’ first attempt to rally came early in the second period when Sheppard tallied eight points to slice the deficit to two. Orlando answered with a Jonathan Isaac corner 3 and a driving layup from Bane, only for Houston to claw back within 42-40 on two Durant free throws.
But Tristan da Silva nailed a 3-pointer, scored on a driving layup, and added a dunk that sparked a 13-6 close to the half for the Magic. Orlando led 55-46 at the break after converting six Houston first-half turnovers into five points while not conceding any points on its three turnovers.
After the Magic stretched their lead back to a dozen points in the third quarter, the Rockets responded with a 12-2 run, only for Black to score through a foul on an alley-oop dunk before drilling a 3 that stretched the margin back to five. Bane sank two free throws and a 3 that lifted the Magic to a 90-79 lead with 9:08 left, only for Houston to rally again and force overtime.
