Miami (AFP) – Alperen Sengun scored 28 points and Kevin Durant added 20 to lead the Houston Rockets over Cleveland 114-104 on Wednesday while reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City beat Sacramento 113-99. Turkish center Sengun added 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Rockets (10-3), who stretched their win streak to five games, while reserve Aaron Holiday scored 14 of his 18 in the fourth quarter to silence a Cavaliers rally.
De’Andre Hunter led Cleveland with 25 points while Donovan Mitchell scored 19 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter for the Cavs (10-6), who got 18 points from Evan Mobley, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year who couldn’t contain Sengun.
“I never back down from anybody,” Sengun said. “Doesn’t matter best defender in the league, anybody. At clutch time, I’m just going to go through him. I’m just going to get my shot and just finish the game.” Cleveland ended the third quarter on a 23-5 run to pull within 74-70 and Mitchell revived in the final 12 minutes but the Rockets would not be denied.
Oklahoma City improved to a league-best 15-1 and 7-0 at home as reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the Thunder win streak reached seven games. Chet Holmgren added 21 points and seven rebounds for the Thunder, who inflicted a seventh consecutive loss upon Sacramento (3-12).
– Jokic triple-double – Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic had a triple-double to power the Denver Nuggets to a 125-118 victory at New Orleans. The 30-year-old Serbian center had 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists for the Nuggets, who were led by Peyton Watson’s 32 points and 12 rebounds.
Indiana (2-13) snapped an eight-game losing streak as Bennedict Mathurin had 24 points and 12 rebounds while Pascal Siakam added 22 points and seven assists for the Pacers in a 127-118 home victory over Charlotte. At Philadelphia, Brandon Ingram and R.J. Barrett each scored 22 points to lead Toronto to a 121-112 victory over the 76ers. Tyrese Maxey scored 24 points for the hosts in a losing cause.
With Stephen Curry sidelined for Golden State due to a sore right ankle, the host Miami Heat beat the Warriors 110-96 behind 25 points from Norman Powell and 20 from Bam Adebayo. At Minneapolis, Julius Randle scored 32 points and Naz Reid added 28 off the bench to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves over visiting Washington 120-109. Kyshawn George scored 23 points to lead the Wizards, whose losing streak stretched to 12 games and record sank to 1-13.
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