Durant scores 22, Sheppard hits five 3-pointers to lead Rockets to a win in Atlanta's home opener

ATLANTA (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 22 points and both Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason had 19 points as the Houston Rockets beat the Atlanta Hawks 121-114.

The Hawks nearly pulled off a comeback by cutting Houston’s 20-point lead down to five in the closing moments, but Durant knocked down two three throws with 18.9 seconds remaining to push the lead back to three possessions.

The win gave Houston its first 3-0 start since 2017-18, and spoiled Atlanta's home opener after the Hawks won their first two games of the season on the road.

Seven Rockets scored in double figures. Amen Thompson posted his third consecutive double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Alperen Sengun had one of his own with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Jalen Johnson sored 26 points and tied his career-high with 16 assists for the Hawks.

The Rockets, who led the NBA in offensive rebounds last season, continued leaning on it as a strength with 13 offensive rebounds leading to 22 second chance points. Sheppard, a 3-point sharpshooter who shot 43% from beyond the arc last year, shook off a 1 of 6 start to his season with a 5 of 11 performance.

The Hawks on the other hand were a dismal 12 of 45 from 3-point range for the night and 5 of 22 in the first half.

Atlanta's Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 18 points, and Aaron Wiggins made a strong impression in his first home game with the franchise after coming over from Oklahoma City in a summer trade, scoring 16 points off the bench.

The Rockets and Hawks will play the second half of their home-and-home Monday in Houston.

Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (1) drives against Atlanta Hawks guard Aaron Wiggins, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) shoots against Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (17) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) shoots against Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) drives against Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A little more than one week before the midterm elections, the leading candidates in Alaska's U.S. Senate race are trying to rally support from Alaska Native voters, a key constituency.

Both Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democratic former Rep. Mary Peltola spoke at this week's Alaska Federation of Natives conference in Anchorage.

The organization previously endorsed Peltola, who is Yup’ik, during her House races in 2022 and 2024, but it did not issue endorsements this year. Both candidates have highlighted support from Native organizations and leaders ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Sealaska Corp., a regional Native corporation in southeast Alaska, has endorsed both of them, calling it a way to “honor their contributions and commitment to our communities, and to honor the diverse positions of our shareholders.”

The race is among the most closely watched nationally, with control of the Senate at stake. On Friday, President Donald Trump — who held a rally in support of Sullivan earlier this month — said he told his administration to sue to block certification of the race if the incumbent loses. The lawsuit cites potential confusion with another candidate who is listed on the ranked choice ballot as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.

Sen. Sullivan is listed as a Republican and the incumbent, while Sullivan Jr. is listed without a party designation. U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote on social media that the lawsuit is necessary to make sure officials “have the information necessary to make a determination as to whether Alaskan voters were confused or mislead.”

Alaskan Natives represent about one-fifth of the state's population, but they can face challenges to voting in remote communities. Advocates have raised concerns in recent years with polling locations in some villages opening late or ballots not arriving on time to be fully counted due to mail delays.

There's also cynicism about whether participating in elections will make a difference.

"There’s legitimate hesitations about whether whoever they vote for is actually going to impact them,” said actor and activist Dallas Goldtooth, who is Bdewakantunwan Dakota and Dine and came to Alaska to encourage conference attendees to vote. “And our job is to say, hey, whether that matters or not, there’s an opportunity for you to make sure that your voice is counted. And I want to encourage people just to take the opportunity as much as possible.”

Sheri Buretta, who chairs the board of Chugach Alaska Corp., an Alaska Native corporation, introduced Sullivan to the conference Thursday as “one of our strongest champions.”

Sullivan, speaking as part of a congressional delegation update, said he’s learned important lessons from Native leaders. He cited work he’s done on issues such as pushing to ensure that Alaska Native Vietnam War-era veterans have access to land allotments.

Peltola, during a candidate forum Friday, became emotional speaking about the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous people and said additional law enforcement resources are needed. She also expressed support for fisheries. Subsistence fishing is critical in many Native communities.

“I will always fight to restore our fisheries. I feel like working on fish issues is my life’s work,” she said.

Energy is also a crucial issue in Alaska, including within Native communities.

Peltola recently said Alaska Natives were being “absolutely crushed” by high costs from the ongoing war with Iran, which Sullivan has supported. Many rural communities rely on diesel for electricity and to heat their homes.

Sullivan has argued the war against Iran is temporary and that the “forever war is the Democrats’ war against Alaskan energy.”

Many Native leaders on Alaska's petroleum-rich North Slope see responsible oil drilling as critical to their region's economy, and they felt their voices weren't heard while Democratic President Joe Biden was in office. His administration sought to restrict drilling in places like the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but Trump and the Republican-led Congress have rolled those efforts back.

Peltola has said she supports expanded oil and gas drilling and would work with Trump to accomplish that. But Sullivan and his allies have tried to align her with “ Lower 48 liberals” who oppose more drilling.

Bohrer reported from Juneau, Alaska.

People attend the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Haven Daley)

President Donald Trump listens as Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks at a campaign rally at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Wasilla, Alaska. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

In this photo made with a smartphone, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mary Peltola, center, stands with supporters during a campaign event in Anchorage, Alaska, on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Haven Daley)