HOUSTON (AP) — Kevin Durant had 18 points and moved into sixth place on the NBA's career points list, and Jabari Smith Jr. scored a season-high 32 points as the Houston Rockets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 119-110 Sunday night.
Alperen Sengun had 21 points and eight rebounds and Amen Thompson finished with 20 points as Houston won for the third time in four games.
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Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) presses a launch button after surpassing Dirk Nowitzki to become the NBA's sixth all-time leading scorer in an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) shoots against Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
New Orleans Pelicans guard Saddiq Bey dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Rockets center Steven Adams is checked out for injury during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) controls the ball against New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Trey Murphy III scored 21 points on 7-for-15 shooting and Zion Williamson had 20 points and six rebounds. Derik Queen finished with 15 points for the Pelicans, who lost for the fourth time in five games and 13th time in 15 games.
With 15.2 seconds left in the game, Durant stepped to the free throw line needing one point to pass Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki (31,560 points) on the NBA's scoring list. The 15-time All-Star made two free throws and received a standing ovation from the home crowd. Durant now has 31,562 career points. Michael Jordan is fifth on the list at 32,292.
When the game was over, a special video message was played on the jumbotron with Dirk Nowitzki congratulating Durant.
Smith, who had 22 points in the first half, bounced back from a 3-for-12 shooting performance in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Against the Pelicans, he shot 11 for 21 and had a career-high seven 3-pointers.
Houston's Steven Adams had to be helped off the court in the fourth quarter with an apparent left ankle injury. Adams, who missed a few games earlier this season with a right ankle injury, had 10 rebounds and five points before leaving the game with just under 10 minutes left in the final quarter.
Pelicans: Host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.
Rockets: Host the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) presses a launch button after surpassing Dirk Nowitzki to become the NBA's sixth all-time leading scorer in an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) shoots against Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
New Orleans Pelicans guard Saddiq Bey dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Rockets center Steven Adams is checked out for injury during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) controls the ball against New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
MIAMI (AP) — A historic season for Fernando Mendoza ended with a national title.
The Heisman Trophy winner didn't have his best statistical game Monday night, but he came up big when it mattered. He completed 16 of 27 passes for 186 yards and ran the ball six times, one of which was for a pivotal 12-yard touchdown.
Offensive momentum slowed for Indiana in the third quarter and the Hoosiers punted three times. Mendoza had zero passing yards and was sacked three times. Early in the fourth, the Hurricanes cut a game-long deficit to three points after a 3-yard rushing score from Mark Fletcher Jr.
But then Mendoza rose to the occasion. He led the Hoosiers on a 12-play, 75-yard drive. He converted two crucial fourth downs, hitting Charlie Becker for an improbable 19-yard reception on a 4th-and-5, and less than a minute later, ran the ball in for a 12-yard touchdown on a 4th-and-4.
It wasn't an easy trip into the end zone. Jakobe Thomas and Wesley Bissainthe collided with Mendoza hard enough for him to nearly topple over. But he caught himself with his hand. With Ahmad Moten Sr. on his tail, and Mohamed Toure and Xavier Lucas closing in, the 6-foot-5 quarterback used every inch to arch over into the end zone.
“I’ll die for my team," Mendoza said. "Whatever they need me to do, they need me to take a shot to the front or back, I’m going to die for my team out there because I know they’ll do the same thing for me. That’s what makes this national championship so special.”
It was the type of play that has surprised competitors all season long. Mendoza, known as a pocket passer, can weave through a defense on foot better than most would expect. He averaged 3.4 yards per carry this season, and including the title game, has rushed for seven TDs.
Coach Curt Cignetti said the play was installed specifically for this game.
“We put it in for this game," Cignetti said after Indiana claimed its first national title. "It was a quarterback draw, but it was blocked differently. And we rolled the dice and said they’re going to be in (the same defense) again. We blocked it well, he broke a tackle or two and got into the end zone.”
The Hurricanes responded with a touchdown on the ensuing drive, but Mendoza responded accordingly. He found Becker for a near-identical 19-yard catch on a critical third down. It extended the drive long enough to give Indiana the chance to convert a 35-yard field goal and take a 27-21 lead.
On the next drive, Jamari Sharpe picked off Miami quarterback Carson Beck to ice the game.
Mendoza did it all in front of Raiders owner Mark Davis, general manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady — all in attendance at Hard Rock Stadium. If the Raiders use their No. 1 pick on Mendoza, he would become the sixth quarterback to win the Heisman, national championship and be drafted first overall.
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Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza passes against Miami during the first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza looks to pass against Miami during the first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza scores against Miami during the second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza holds the trophy after their win against Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza celebrates after scoring against Miami during the second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
