Eight straight! Kevin Durant scores 29 as Rockets (51-29) beat Sixers
Veteran star Kevin Durant dropped an efficient 29 points versus Philadelphia as the Rockets (51-29) won their eighth straight game.
HOUSTON -- Kevin Durant scored a game-high 29 points on elite efficiency as the Rockets defeated the visiting Philadelphia 76ers, 113-102 ( box score ). Thursday’s victory gives the Rockets (51-29) eight straight wins for the first time this season. Houston remains tied with Lakers for the No.
4 spot in the tightly packed Western Conference standings , though Los Angeles does hold the tiebreaker. Two regular-season games are left to play for both teams. Durant, 37, made 10-of-18 shots (55.
6%) versus the Sixers, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range (50. 0%). The All-Star forward also tallied 7 rebounds and 5 assists, and the Rockets were +17 in his 38 minutes played.
The Rockets led by as many as 28 points in the third quarter, though they had to withstand a furious rally in which the Sixers closed the gap to as little as five points late in the fourth quarter. Fortunately for the home team, Durant hit a dagger 3-pointer with just over a minute remaining to put the game away. Other statistics of note included: Amen Thompson: 19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 turnovers, 4 assists, 3 steals; 7-of-14 shooting (50.