Durant scored 25 points and leads fourth-quarter push as Rockets beat Grizzlies 119-109

Memphis, Tenn. (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 25 points and led a fourth-quarter rally as the Houston Rockets pulled away from the Memphis Grizzlies with a 119-109 victory Friday night.

Jabari Smith Jr. added 21 points and 16 rebounds and Amen Thompson had 18 points as Houston ended a two-game slide. Durant also had 10 assists.

Olivier-Maxence Prosper led the Grizzlies with a career-high 31 points and had seven rebounds. GG Jackson and Javon Small each added 14 points as Memphis lost its fifth straight and 13th in its last 14.

The Grizzlies were trailing 96-93 near the 7-minute mark of the fourth when Durant returned and made a 3-pointer. That kickstarted a 14-3 run through the middle stages of the frame that grew the Rockets' lead to 110-96.

The Rockets, who are in sixth place in the Western Conference, are closer to Minnesota in the fifth spot than they are in danger of falling into a play-in game. With the win, Houston pulled within a game of the idle Timberwolves and four games games ahead of Phoenix for seventh.

Memphis, which has dealt with several injuries, is limping to the end of the regular season, hoping to enhance its position in the draft lottery. Ten Grizzlies were on the injured list against Houston.

The Rockets led 56-49 at the break as Reed Sheppard and Alperen Sengun had 10 points each. Jackson and Small had 12 points apiece to lead Memphis. The game remained within one possession near the midway point of the third. At that point, the Rockets stretched their advantage to double digits before carrying a 87-82 advantage into the fourth.

Rockets: Close out a four-game road trip at New Orleans on Sunday.

Grizzlies: Host Chicago on Saturday night.

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Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) looks to shoot against Memphis Grizzlies forward Taylor Hendricks (22) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 27, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard, center, dives for the ball ahead of Memphis Grizzlies forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper (18) and center Alperen Sengun (28) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 27, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (1) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson II (45) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 27, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Memphis Grizzlies guard DeJon Jarreau (77) grabs a rebound in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Friday, March 27, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson II (45) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 27, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

BOSTON (AP) — Payton Pritchard scored 36 points, Jayson Tatum had 26 points and 12 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks 109-102 on Friday night.

Jalen Johnson scored 29 points and CJ McCollum had 21 for the Hawks, who came in 15-2 since the All-Star break, best in the Eastern Conference. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 20 points but Atlanta's shooting touch faded as the game progressed after a strong start.

Boston played without All-Star guard Jaylen Brown, who was ruled out with Achilles tendinitis.

Behind Pritchard’s spark off the bench and a dramatic swing beyond the arc, the Celtics caught the Hawks after trailing 25-9 in the first quarter. Boston made seven straight 3-pointers during the second quarter, but Johnson and Atlanta went into halftime up 60-55.

Fresh off an overtime victory over Eastern Conference leader Detroit, Atlanta entered the final quarter within striking distance of Boston, which has the East's second-best record. Tatum had a tough night from the field, missing 16 of 24 shots, yet his spinning drive to the rim gave Boston a 97-86 lead with 7:29 remaining.

After getting fouled on a 3-point attempt with time winding down on the shot clock, Tatum sealed it with three free throws that gave Boston a 107-99 lead with a minute left.

The surging Hawks entered Friday with 14 wins in their last 15 games. They had their three-game winning streak snapped after shooting 39% from the field.

Brown missed his eighth game of the season. The Celtics improved to 7-1 without their leading scorer. Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said he was day to day.

Hawks: Host Sacramento on Saturday night.

Celtics: Travel to face Charlotte on Sunday.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, top, wrestles for the ball with Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher, bottom, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson drives to the basket against Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson drives to the basket against the Boston Celtics center during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) celebrates after hitting a 3-point basket against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 27, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)