NBA: Kevin Durant, Rockets errupt in second half to stifle Hawks

Kevin Durant scored 31 points to lead the visiting Houston Rockets to a 104-86 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.

After managing only 37 points in the second half of Wednesday’s loss to San Antonio, the Rockets bounced back, outscoring the Hawks 61-44 in the final two quarters. The win marked the first of two meetings between the teams this season.

Houston has now won six of its last eight games. Atlanta’s four-game winning streak ended, keeping the Hawks below .500 for the first time since December 21.

Durant, averaging 29.3 points in 32 career games against Atlanta, shot 12-for-22 from the floor, including three 3-pointers. Atlanta native Jabari Smith added 14 points and eight rebounds, while Reed Sheppard contributed 13 points. Josh Okogie recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The Hawks were led by C.J. McCollum with 23 points, including five 3-pointers, and five rebounds. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 20 points, and Corey Kispert scored 17.

Atlanta was without four starters. Leading scorer Jalen Johnson sat out with calf tightness, and Onyeka Okongwu missed the game due to a dental fracture sustained Wednesday. The team was already without Zaccharie Risacher (left knee bone bruise) and Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendinitis).

The Hawks led by as many as seven points in the first quarter, thanks to 10 points from Alexander-Walker, but the Rockets ended the quarter on a 5-0 run to tie the game at 23-23.

The second quarter saw five ties, with Houston taking a 43-42 lead at halftime on a basket by Amen Thompson. The Rockets then went on a 13-2 run in the third quarter to build a 10-point lead, their largest of the night. Houston outscored Atlanta 35-24 in the third and 12-4 to start the fourth, extending the lead to 22 points twice before cruising to victory.

-Field Level Media/Reuters