In New York, Kevin Durant scored 22 points and recorded a season-high 11 assists, while Amen Thompson led the Houston Rockets with 23 points, helping the team secure a 120-96 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night, marking their fourth consecutive win. After missing two games, Alperen Sengun made a strong return with 20 points, six rebounds, and six assists, contributing to the Rockets’ first win in Brooklyn in seven years. Tali Eason added 15 points and 9 rebounds, and both Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Shepherd scored 14 points each.
Sengun was impressive, hitting 8 of 12 shots after recovering from a left calf injury. For the Nets, Cam Thomas scored 21 points, achieving their only three-game winning streak of the season, but Brooklyn suffered their second straight loss. Giare Williams contributed 14 points. Michael Porter Jr., who leads the Nets with a career-best 25.8 points per game, missed the game due to illness, along with key players Egor Demin and Terrence Mann. Without these players, Brooklyn was unable to maintain their lead after winning six consecutive games, marking their first home loss to Houston since November 2, 2018.
Despite going 7-4 in December and allowing an NBA-worst 104.6 points per game, the Nets struggled as Houston quickly took control to start the new year. The Rockets made their first seven shots of the game to take a 16-5 lead, extending it to 14 points by halftime at 53-42. In the second half, Houston hit their first five three-pointers and went 8-for-9 overall. Smith and Eason each made two three-pointers, Thompson added one during a 19-5 run, and Smith sank consecutive threes to push the lead to 74-49. Notably, the Rockets played without their centers Steven Adams (right ankle sprain) and Clint Capela (illness).
The Rockets will face Dallas on Saturday, while the Nets are set to visit Washington on Friday.
Fan Take: This game highlights the Rockets’ emerging strength and resilience, especially with key players coming back into form. For basketball fans, it signals a potentially exciting shift in the balance of power, with Houston looking to challenge established teams and inject fresh energy into the league.
