Durant scores 30 as the Rockets beat the Trail Blazers 140-116 for 3rd straight victory

HOUSTON (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 30 points, Alperen Sengun added 25 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and the Houston Rockets won their third straight with a 140-116 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in an NBA Cup game on Friday night.

Durant, who had 16 points in the first period, finished 12 of 19 from the field. Jabari Smith Jr. scored 22 points, Amen Thompson had 19 points and Reed Sheppard 13.

The Rockets have won eight of their last nine games and improved to 1-1 in NBA Cup play. Houston shot 50%, including 17 of 45 on 3-pointers. The Rockets forced the Trail Blazers into 20 turnovers and converted them into 30 points.

Tari Eason left with a bruised right hip after being bumped and falling to the floor. He went to the locker room with a trainer midway through the second quarter.

Deni Avdija had 22 points and 10 rebounds, Shaedon Sharpe added 19 points and eight rebounds, Toumani Camara scored 16 points and Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant each had 13 for Portland, which fell to 1-1 in NBA Cup play. The Trailblazers shot 47% and were 13 of 36 from 3-point range.

Leading 58-57 with 2:44 left in the second, Houston ended the half on an 11-3 run and took a 69-60 lead into halftime on a tip-in by Josh Okogie. The Rockets opened the second half with an 8-0 run to increase the lead to 17 points on a 3-pointer by Okogie with 10:49 left in the period. Houston’s lead never dipped below 10 the rest of the way.

Trail Blazers: At Dallas Mavericks on Sunday in the finale of a five-game trip.

Rockets: Host the Orlando Magic on Sunday to finish a three-game homestand.

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Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) defends against Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe, left, during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game in Houston, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III, right, tries to keep the ball in play during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Houston Rockets in Houston, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Rockets guard Josh Okogie, center, dunks during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Houston, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant celebrates after a 3-pointer during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Houston, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (1) passes against Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game in Houston, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — A second flight carrying Iranians deported from the United States has left America, Iranian officials said, as Washington reportedly planned to send hundreds of prisoners back to the Islamic Republic.

The deportations come as tensions remain high between Iran and the U.S. after America bombed Iranian nuclear sites during Tehran's 12-day war with Israel in June. Activists abroad also have expressed concern about deportees returning to Iran, whose theocracy has been cracking down on intellectuals and executing prisoners at a rate unseen in decades.

A report published Monday by the Mizan news agency, the official mouthpiece of the Iran's judiciary, quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry official Mojtaba Shasti Karimi acknowledging the deportation of 55 Iranians.

“These individuals announced their willingness for return following continuation of anti-immigration and discriminative policy against foreign nationals particularly Iranians by the United States,” Karimi reportedly said.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei also said Sunday there were plans for 55 Iranians to return to the Islamic Republic.

Based on the U.S. claims, “the Iranians were repatriated because of legal reasons and breach of immigration regulations," Baghaei said.

The U.S. government did not immediately acknowledge the deportation flight and it wasn't clear whether the plane had arrived yet in Tehran. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press early Monday.

The deportations represent a collision of a top priority of President Donald Trump — targeting illegal immigration — against a decades-long practice by the U.S. of welcoming Iranian dissidents, exiles and others since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In September, Iranian officials acknowledged as many as 400 Iranians could be returned under the Trump administration policy. That month, the first such flight arrived in Tehran.

In the lead up to and after the 1979 revolution, a large number of Iranians fled to the U.S. In the decades since, the U.S. had been sensitive in allowing those fleeing from Iran over religious, sexual or political persecution to seek residency. Iran has maintained only those facing criminal charges face prosecution, while others can travel freely. However, Tehran has detained Westerns and others with ties abroad in the past to be exchanged in prisoner swaps.

Iran has criticized Washington for hosting dissidents and others in the past. U.S. federal prosecutors have accused Iran of hiring hitmen to target dissidents as well in America.

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Cars drive in an afternoon traffic jam in a high air pollution in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)