DETROIT (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 32 points as the Houston Rockets ended the Detroit Pistons' four-game winning streak with a 111-104 victory Friday night.
Durant averages 30.6 points in 32 career games against the Pistons - his highest average against any other team. He added seven rebounds and three assists in 40 minutes without a turnover.
Alperen Sengun scored 19 points and Reed Shepherd added 18 points for the Rockets, who have won four of five. Amen Thompson had 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for Houston, which had lost five straight on the road.
Jalen Duren led Detroit with 18 points and seven rebounds, but Detroit's other four starters combined for 37 points on 13-of-35 shooting (37.1%).
Houston outscored Detroit 34-20 in the third quarter to turn a tie game into an 86-72 lead. Durant and Sheppard combined for 18 points in the quarter on 7-for-8 shooting.
Detroit got within 87-80 with a four-point possession early in the fourth. Cade Cunningham missed, but Jae'Sean Tate was called for a flagrant foul when he undercut Ron Holland II as he went for the rebound. Holland made both free throws and Duren dunked off a Cunningham lob.
After a Rockets turnover, Isaiah Stewart's three-point play made it 87-83, but the Pistons couldn't get even.
Josh Okogie's 3-pointer made it 101-93 with 5:19, and Houston moved the lead back to double figures on Shepherd's layup with 2:04 left.
Durant had 18 points in the first half, but the Pistons had a 36-24 edge in points in the paint to keep the game tied at 52 going into the third quarter.
Houston's defense stepped up early in the third quarter, holding Cunningham and Duncan Robinson to two shot attempts in the first eight minutes. The Rockets outshot Detroit 68.4% (13-19) to 36.4% (8—22) in the period.
Rockets: Host the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
Pistons: Host the Sacramento Kings on Sunday afternoon.
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Detroit Pistons forward Ronald Holland II (5) goes to the basket against Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) lays up a shot against Houston Rockets center Clint Capela (30) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
CHICAGO (AP) — Aday Mara scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half, helping No. 3 Michigan hold off Bruce Thornton and Ohio State for a 71-67 victory Friday in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
Elliot Cadeau had 15 points, seven assists and three steals for Michigan in its fifth consecutive win. Trey McKenney scored 12 points, and Morez Johnson Jr. finished with 11.
Mara anchored a strong defensive effort that shut down Ohio State in the final minutes. It was the first game of the tournament for the top-seeded Wolverines (30-2), while the Buckeyes (21-12) advanced with a 72-69 victory over Iowa on Thursday.
Michigan is going for its second straight Big Ten tourney title and fifth overall. Next up is a semifinal matchup with the winner of the Wisconsin-Illinois game.
Thornton scored 22 points for Ohio State, and Devin Royal had 13. It was the Buckeyes’ third loss of the season against the Wolverines.
Ohio State grabbed its first lead of the game when Royal’s 3-pointer from the top of the key made it 61-60 with 5:40 left.
Mara’s layup lifted Michigan to a 67-64 advantage with 2:56 to go. Royal and Thornton then missed jumpers for Ohio State before Yaxel Lendeborg made a free throw for the Wolverines with 1:24 remaining.
The Buckeyes pulled within two on Royal’s two foul shots in the final seconds, but Lendeborg responded with two free throws to help close it out.
Lendeborg, the Big Ten player of the year, was held to six points. But he also had six assists and five rebounds.
Michigan opened a 29-18 lead on Lendeborg’s fast-break jam over Ohio State’s Christoph Tilly with 6:25 left in the first half, sending a charge through the crowd at the United Center. But Thornton converted a runner in the final seconds, trimming the Wolverines’ advantage to 39-35 at the break.
Thornton scored 13 points in the first half for Ohio State on 5-for-7 shooting, and McKenney had 10 at intermission for Michigan.
Michigan lost to Wisconsin 91-88 on Jan. 10. The Wolverines beat Illinois 84-70 on Feb. 27.
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Michigan center Aday Mara dunks against Ohio State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big 10 Conference tournament, Friday, March 13, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Michigan guard Nimari Burnett, right, drives to the basket past Ohio State center Christoph Tilly during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big 10 Conference tournament, Friday, March 13, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Ohio State center Christoph Tilly, center, battles for a loose ball against guard Gabe Cupps, left, and Michigan guard Roddy Gayle Jr. during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big 10 Conference tournament, Friday, March 13, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
