Durant, Sengun steer Rockets past Magic in OT for 4th straight win

HOUSTON, November 18 ------ Kevin Durant scored 35 points and Alperen Sengun had 30 points and 12 rebounds to help the Houston Rockets rally for a 117-113 overtime victory over the Orlando Magic.

Orlando led by a point when Amen Thompson put the Rockets on top on a dunk with an assist from Durant with less than a minute left in overtime. Jabari Smith Jr. blocked a layup by Franz Wagner and Durant’s step-back jumper made it 113-110 with 9.2 seconds left. Wagner made two free throws with 8.7 seconds to go, pulling the Magic within 1. But, Reed Sheppard made two free throws for Houston to extend the lead to 115-112 with 4.1 seconds left. Wendell Carter Jr. made one free throw, but was called for a lane violation on the second attempt, making it Houston leading 115-113. Thompson made two free throws after that to seal Houston’s fourth straight victory.

Wagner scored a season-high 29 points and Desmond Bane also set his season high with 26 points to lead the Magic on a night they were missing both Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs because of groin injuries. The Rockets trailed by as many as 11 in the fourth quarter before using a big run to get back in it. Durant made a 3-pointer with 21.4 seconds in regulation to tie it at 100. Sengun blocked a layup by Bane with 5.3 seconds remaining and officials said it was Orlando’s possession after the ball sailed out of bounds. The Rockets challenged the call and it was overturned.

Sengun threw the inbounds pass intended for Durant, but he slipped and Anthony Black stole the ball and finished with a dunk to put the Magic on top. He was fouled by Sengun, but missed the free throw to give the Rockets another chance. Sengun made a shot in the lane just before the clock expired to tie it at 102-all and send it to overtime.

Meanwhile in Phoenix, Onyeka Okongwu had 27 points and the Atlanta Hawks overcame a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter to stun the Suns, 124-122. Atlanta won its fifth straight and ended Phoenix’s winning streak at five. The Hawks finished 4-0 on a western trip. Nickell Alexander-Walker had 26 points for Atlanta, making the first of two free throws with three seconds to go. Royce O’Neale rebounded the miss on the second one his shot from beyond halfcourt bounced off the rim. Josh Johnson had 25 points and 10 rebounds, and Dyson Daniels 11 points and 12 assists for the Hawks, who won without All-Star guard Trae Young (right knee sprain) and center Kristaps Porzingis (right knee soreness).

Dillon Brooks had 34 points for Phoenix. Devin Booker added 27, and Colin Gillespie had 15 points, and team highs with nine rebounds and eight assists. The Suns were without Grayson Allen (right quadriceps contusion) and Jalen Green, who will miss at least four more weeks because of a strained right hamstring. Atlanta’s Zaccharie Risacher scored 15 points before leaving the game in the fourth quarter after an awkward fall following a dunk. He was down for several minutes before walking off under his own power. The team said after the game had had a left hip contusion. The Suns trailed most of the first half. Atlanta led by 13 before Phoenix closed the half on a 21-7 run to lead 58-57 at the break. Brooks scored 16 points in the third quarter, and the Suns scored the final 15 points in the period to open up a 95-77 lead.

Source: mb.com.ph