HOUSTON (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 29 points and Amen Thompson scored 23 points as the Houston Rockets beat the Toronto Raptors 113-99 on Tuesday night.
Durant shot 12 of 16 from the field while adding seven rebounds. He scored 22 of his points in the first half.
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Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason dunks against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason, left, attempts to steal the ball from Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) shoots as Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (17) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett (9) shoots as Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, left, defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) dribbles as Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Thompson eclipsed the 20-point mark for the fifth time in six games. He converted on 6 of his 10 field goal attempts while making 10 free throws.
Jabari Smith Jr. also added 23 points for the Rockets, who pulled into a tie for third place in the Western Conference standings. Alperen Sengun scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
Houston shot 60% in the first quarter and outrebounded the Raptors 11-5, but with the help of six Rockets’ turnovers the game was tied at 29. The Rockets closed the first half on a 14-4 run to take a 58-49 halftime lead.
The Rockets shot 49% from the field for the game and outrebounded the Raptors 53-30, finishing with 22 second chance points to Toronto’s five.
RJ Barrett’s 25 points led the Raptors. Scottie Barnes scored 24 points, but Toronto made just 9 of 36 three-point attempts.
The Raptors’ lead over the Orlando Magic for fifth place in the Eastern Conference is down to ½ game.
Raptors: At the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.
Rockets: At the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason dunks against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason, left, attempts to steal the ball from Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) shoots as Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (17) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett (9) shoots as Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, left, defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) dribbles as Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
