Kevin Durant scores 24 in his return to Phoenix, leads the Rockets past the Suns 119-105

PHOENIX (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 24 points in his return to Phoenix and the Houston Rockets rallied from an early 21-point deficit and pulled away late to beat the Phoenix Suns 119-105 on Tuesday night.

The Rockets are on a seven-game winning streak and moved into a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference playoff race.

All five Houston starters scored in double figures. Durant made 5 of 9 3-pointers.

Durant, a 16-time All-Star, was greeted with a mix of boos and cheers by Suns fans when he was announced as part of the Rockets' starting lineup. He was traded to the Rockets during the offseason after spending 2 1/2 seasons in the desert in a package that brought Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green to the Suns.

The Suns jumped out to a 26-5 lead midway through the first quarter, hitting 10 of their first 15 shots, but the Rockets cut the deficit to 57-54 by halftime. Houston led early in the third quarter but Phoenix rallied to take an 84-81 into the fourth.

Houston scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to push back into the lead and didn’t trail again. Durant hit a 3-pointer to put Rockets up 111-96 with 4:14 left.

Devin Booker scored 31 points for the Suns. The Rockets finished with a 55-34 rebounding edge.

Durant came to the Suns in 2023 as part of a four-team trade deadline deal just hours after Mat Ishbia officially took the reins of the franchise as a majority owner. The splashy move was widely praised at the time, but the Suns were never able to advance past the second round of the playoffs during his tenure.

Rockets: Host the 76ers on Thursday.

Suns: Host the Mavericks on Wednesday.

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

Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin celebrates a made 3-pointer against the Houston Rockets during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason, left, and Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) dive after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale (00) goes in for a block against Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (1) shoots over Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, right, pauses before dribbling against Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points and Julius Randle and Bones Hyland each added 19 as the Minnesota Timberwolves picked up a critical 124-104 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night.

Hyland also had seven assists and Rudy Gobert finished with 12 rebounds. Minnesota clinched a top six seed, avoiding the Western Conference's play-in tournament, when Houston beat Phoenix later Tuesday.

For the Timberwolves, it was a much-needed turnaround. They snapped a three-game losing streak and won for just the second time in six games as they try to build postseason momentum.

The Timberwolves also won despite the absences of All-Star guard Anthony Edwards and Jayden McDaniels. Edwards has missed nine of Minnesota's last 11 games with a bad right knee, this time on the front end of a back-to-back and against a Pacers squad missing a large group of injured players. McDaniels missed his sixth straight game with an injured left knee.

Ethan Thompson scored 17 points to lead Indiana, and Obi Toppin and Jalen Slawson each had 14 points. The league's second-worst team lost its third straight and fell to 4-22 in its last 26 games. Indiana still needs two wins to avoid posting the lowest single season victory total in the franchise's NBA history.

And this one was never really close.

Minnesota took a double-digit lead late in the first quarter, still led 63-53 at the half and extended the margin to 73-55 early in the third. After the Pacers cut the deficit to 77-67 with six straight points midway through the third, the Timberwolves closed the quarter on a 25-5 run that made it 102-77 and sealed the victory.

Timberwolves: Travel to Orlando for their final back-to-back this season on Wednesday.

Pacers: Play their final road game this season Thursday at Brooklyn.

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

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) reaches for a shot attempt by Indiana Pacers center Jay Huff (32) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland drives to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) battles for a rebound with Indiana Pacers center Micah Potter (11) and forward Jalen Slawson (18) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) drives toward the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)