Rockets win their 5th straight, beating the Jazz 140-106 behind 25 points from Kevin Durant

HOUSTON (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 25 points and the Houston Rockets won their fifth straight game, beating the Utah Jazz 140-106 on Friday night.

Durant shot 8 of 12 from the field and added five assists. It was the 45th time this season he's scored 20 or more points while shooting 50% or better. That’s second among NBA players behind Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has done it 47 times.

Amen Thompson had 21 points and Alperen Sengun scored 19 for the Rockets (48-29), who clinched a playoff spot Thursday. They are a game behind Denver for fourth place in the Western Conference.

Cody Williams led the Jazz with 27 points and 11 rebounds, but they shot just 5 of 27 from behind the 3-point line.

Utah (21-57) has lost eight consecutive games and 12 of 13.

Houston scored the first five points and never trailed. Tari Eason capped an 11-3 run with less than three minutes left in the first quarter to push the lead to 10, and the Rockets led by 12 after 12 minutes.

Utah scored the first five points of the second, but the Rockets answered with a 12-2 burst to push their lead to 17. The margin grew to 23 before Houston took a 19-point lead into halftime.

The Jazz whittled the lead down to 14, but the Rockets used a 19-4 run in the final 3:20 of the period to take a 29-point advantage into the fourth.

Jazz: At the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.

Rockets: At the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (1) controls the ball against the Utah Jazz during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy, left, talks with forward Cody Williams (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) controls the ball against Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Houston Rockets' Kevin Durant (7) high-fives Reed Sheppard (15) after Sheppard's 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) controls the ball against Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

PHOENIX (AP) — Lauren Betts had 16 points and made a huge block late, and UCLA withstood a late charge by Texas on Friday night for a 51-44 win to reach the women's NCAA Tournament national championship game for the first time.

Manhandled by eventual national champion UConn in their first Final Four a year ago, the Bruins (36-1) dominated their way to another national semifinal with the best season in program history.

A chance at a first national championship game appearance had to go through the only team to beat them this season.

Overpowered in the first meeting, the Bruins turned the bully tables on Texas (35-4), shutting down All-American Madison Booker while building a 13-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.

The Longhorns are one of the nation's best defensive teams and flexed their D during a 12-2 run that cut UCLA's lead to 47-44.

Betts swatted the Texas run to halt.

She blocked Booker's shot with 20 seconds left and Kiki Rice hit two free throws, sending coach Cori Close's crew into the title game.

The grinding win earns the Bruins a spot Sunday’s title game against South Carolina, the three-time national champions who ended reigning champion UConn’s undefeated season and left Huskies’ coach Geno Auriemma fuming.

So was Booker after a brutal finish to what was otherwise a stellar season. She hit her first shot, missed her next 17 and finished with six points on 3-of-23 shooting.

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

UCLA head coach Cori Close motions towards the court during the first half of a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game between UCLA and Texas at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) shoots against Texas during the first half of a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Texas head coach Vic Schaefer motions towards the court during the first half of a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

UCLA guard Kiki Rice (1) drives against Texas guard Bryanna Preston, left, during the first half of a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)