HOUSTON – The scoreboard read 104-100 New Orleans. Thirty-one seconds remained on the clock. The Houston Rockets, playing without All-Star center Alperen Şengün, were staring at a damaging loss to a Pelicans team with the West’s fourth-worst record .
Then, chaos ensued. And when the dust settled, Kevin Durant had done what Kevin Durant does.
The 37-year-old future Hall of Famer delivered yet another masterclass in late-game execution, scoring Houston’s final four points—including the go-ahead jumper with 7.6 seconds left—to lift the Rockets to a pulsating 107-105 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Toyota Center .
The win improved Houston to 41-25, pulling them into a tie for the No. 3 seed in a Western Conference standings that resemble rush-hour traffic. More importantly, it provided yet another reminder of why the Rockets traded for Durant in the first place: to have a closer who can turn chaos into calm when the game hangs in the balance.
A Final Minute for the Ages
The sequence that decided this game belonged in a time capsule.
Trailing by four with the shot clock off and the game seemingly slipping away, the Rockets needed a miracle. They got one, thanks to a combination of veteran composure and defensive tenacity.
Jabari Smith Jr. , who had struggled with his shot all night, parked himself in the corner and drilled a massive three-pointer with 31 seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to 104-103 . It was his only make from deep in a 3-of-10 night from beyond the arc, but its weight was immeasurable. Smith finished with 16 points and five rebounds in 38 minutes, his fourth straight game in double figures since returning from an ankle injury .
The Pelicans, however, still led. And when Dejounte Murray—who was having a season-best night with 35 points on 14-of-18 shooting—inbounded the ball with 13 seconds left, New Orleans seemed poised to escape .
Enter Amen Thompson.
The third-year guard trapped Murray along the sideline, using his 6-foot-7 frame and All-Defensive instincts to pressure the Pelicans star. Murray stepped out of bounds. Turnover. Rockets ball .
“I wanted him to get it on the sideline, where he was trapped by me and the sideline,” Thompson explained after the game. “I was trying to steal the ball, and if I didn’t steal, I was going to foul. And he stepped out right before I fouled” .
The mistake proved fatal. Durant, isolated in the midrange, rose over his defender and drained a vintage pull-up jumper with 7.6 seconds on the clock. Houston led 105-104 .
The Pelicans’ misery wasn’t finished. On the ensuing inbound, Zion Williamson fired a pass that eluded Herb Jones and rolled out of bounds. Another turnover. Durant calmly sank two free throws, and Trey Murphy III’s fading heave at the buzzer missed its mark .
Game over. Rockets win.
Durant Delivers Again
Durant finished with a team-high 32 points, shooting 13-of-24 from the field and 3-of-7 from three-point range, adding six rebounds and five assists . Nine of those points came in the fourth quarter, accounting for one-third of Houston’s total in the final period .
In clutch time—defined as the final five minutes of a game within five points—Durant scored seven of Houston’s 11 points . It was the kind of performance that defines legacies.
“I’m definitely nervous in that timeout, when coach draws up plays for me,” Durant admitted postgame to Space City Home Network. “My teammates encourage me, I go out on the floor, then the nerves just go away. I just try to stick to my fundamentals and knock the shot down” .
The victory marked the latest example of Durant bailing out his team against an inferior opponent—a pattern that has emerged throughout the season . But head coach Ime Udoka will take it. In a conference where the difference between the No. 2 seed and the play-in tournament can be a single game, having a closer of Durant’s caliber is an luxury few teams can match.
Thompson’s Ascension Continues
While Durant provided the finishing blow, Thompson provided the foundation.
The 23-year-old flirted with a triple-double, posting 23 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists while shooting 7-of-15 from the field . He scored 15 of those points in the first half, keeping Houston afloat while the offense found its rhythm .
Thompson’s recent surge has been nothing short of spectacular. Over his last 10 games, he’s averaging 20.0 points on 60.3% shooting, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game . In March, he and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are the only NBA players averaging at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists while shooting 60% or better from the field .
“Amen was good all night,” Durant said. “Handled the ball, almost had a triple-double, playing great defense. Those last two defensive plays is what won us the game” .
Thompson himself credited the team’s defensive identity for the victory. “At the end, I felt like it was our defensive execution that won us the game, honestly,” he said .
Sheppard’s Spark Off the Bench
The Rockets received another significant contribution from rookie guard Reed Sheppard, who poured in 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-11 from three-point range . The five triples marked his second-highest total of the month, and he added five rebounds, three assists, and a steal in 32 minutes off the bench .
Sheppard has been a model of consistency since the All-Star break, scoring in double figures in 11 of his last 13 appearances while averaging 16.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game . His ability to space the floor and provide instant offense has been crucial for a Houston team that often struggles with half-court creation when Durant rests.
Capela’s Contributions
Veteran center Clint Capela provided a physical presence off the bench, finishing with nine points, five rebounds, and four blocks in 23 minutes . His rim protection was particularly valuable against a Pelicans team featuring Zion Williamson’s relentless attacks on the basket.
The performance was a reminder of Capela’s value as a backup center, though his season-long numbers have dipped to 3.7 points and 4.4 rebounds in just 12.3 minutes per game . Against New Orleans, however, his impact was undeniable.
The Şengün Void
The Rockets played without All-Star center Alperen Şengün, who missed the game with back soreness . His absence forced Houston to lean heavily on small-ball lineups, with Smith sliding to center at times and Thompson handling increased playmaking duties.
“We’re missing out big fella,” Durant acknowledged. “We played small all night, so we can be a versatile team. So we gotta keep getting better” .
The versatility paid off, but Şengün’s return will be welcomed. His ability to operate as a hub in the half-court offense provides a dimension Houston currently lacks.
Looking Ahead: A Crucial Homestand
The victory opened a critical five-game homestand for the Rockets, who now face two massive matchups against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday and Wednesday .
Both teams enter the series tied at 41-25, jockeying for position in the crowded Western Conference playoff race . The stakes couldn’t be higher: the Lakers need to win both games to clinch the head-to-head tiebreaker in the three-game season series, while the Rockets need only one victory (having already won the Christmas Day matchup in Los Angeles) .
Monday’s game will tip off at 8:30 p.m. local time and air nationally on Peacock and NBC Sports Network, with Wednesday’s rematch on ESPN .
The Bigger Picture
For the Rockets, Friday’s win was about more than just improving to 41-25. It was about proving they can win ugly, win without their All-Star center, and win when everything seems to be going wrong.
They shot just 40-of-94 from the field (42.6%) and 14-of-41 from three-point range (34.1%) . They allowed Murray to score a season-high 35 points on near-perfect shooting . They trailed by four with 31 seconds left.
But they had Durant. They had Thompson’s defense. They had Smith’s courage to keep shooting after a difficult night. And they had the composure to execute when it mattered most.
“We can’t ask anything more of our players right now what they’re giving effort-wise and playing together,” Steve Kerr might say, but on this night, those words belonged to the Rockets.
As the Western Conference playoff race intensifies, one thing is clear: with Durant on the floor and Thompson ascending into stardom, Houston has the pieces to make noise in May. Friday night was just the latest reminder.