Rockets Beat Hornets Thanks to Durant's 35 Points

The Houston Rockets stopped the Charlotte Hornets' hot streak with a tough 105-101 road victory Thursday night. Kevin Durant looked unstoppable, pouring in 35 points to lead Houston to a win.

Durant Takes Over

Durant was in full attack mode all night long. He sliced through defenders and rose up for smooth jump shots. The 36-year-old superstar hit 70 percent of his attempts from the floor. He also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out four assists. Durant added three blocked shots, swatting away Charlotte's hopes with perfect timing. His veteran presence carried the Rockets when the game got tight.

Back-and-Forth Battle

Charlotte jumped ahead early, leading 33-24 after the first quarter. The home crowd roared as the Hornets protected their seven-game winning streak. But Houston clawed back before halftime, taking a 53-52 lead. The third quarter stayed close, with the Rockets up 80-78. Houston pulled away just enough in the final period to secure the win.

Grant Williams led Charlotte with 20 points on red-hot shooting. Brandon Miller added 17 points and seven assists. LaMelo Ball filled up the stat sheet with 11 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds. Kon Knueppel chipped in 15 points as well.

Rockets' Supporting Cast Steps Up

Reed Sheppard provided a huge spark for Houston. The rookie guard scored 13 points in 24 minutes. Jabari Smith Jr. added 15 points and seven rebounds. Alperen Sengun controlled the middle with 13 points, seven assists, and three steals. Amen Thompson played lockdown defense with four steals while grabbing seven rebounds.

Playoff Push Continues

Houston improved to 34-20, sitting third in the Western Conference. The Rockets are mastering close games during this winning streak. Charlotte fell to 26-30 but remains in playoff position at tenth in the Eastern Conference. Their young core continues fighting for postseason basketball.