Kevin Durant, Rockets Applauded by NBA Fans After Holding Off Late Push By Chet Holmgren, Thunder

Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets knocked off Chet Holmgren and the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder 112-106 without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Gilgeous-Alexander suffered an abdominal strain in a Feb. 3 win over the Orlando Magic and is expected to miss at least five games, sidelining him through the All-Star break.

All five Houston starters scored in double-figures, led by Durant, who finished with 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting with four assists, a steal and a block to help close out the win. 

Tari Eason paced the Rockets with 26 points and eight rebounds, while Jabari Smith Jr. added 22 points and 10 boards. Reed Sheppard chipped in 16 points, and Alperen Sengun recorded a triple-double with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.

Without Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace led Oklahoma City with 23 points. Holmgren added 17 points and 14 rebounds, but the Thunder were unable to protect their home floor.

Fans praised Durant and the Rockets for holding off the Thunder down the stretch.

With the win, the Rockets improved to 32-20 and created separation from the Los Angeles Lakers for fourth place in the Western Conference. Oklahoma City fell to 40-13 but remained firmly in first place in the West.

The Thunder carried a six-point lead into halftime behind 10 points apiece from Holmgren and Wallace, while Isaiah Joe added 11. Durant had seven points at the break for Houston, with Eason and Sheppard scoring 10 each.

Houston surged ahead in the third to take a six-point lead entering the fourth. The teams traded baskets down the stretch before Durant delivered a clutch bucket to push the Rockets ahead by six with just over a minute remaining.

The Rockets will open a home back-to-back against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. The Thunder will continue life without Gilgeous-Alexander when they visit the Lakers on Monday.