The Houston Rockets delivered one of their most electrifying comebacks of the season Thursday night, storming back from a 19-point deficit to defeat the Orlando Magic 113-108 in a game that flipped dramatically in the second half.
At the center of it all was Kevin Durant, who erupted for a season-high 40 points, including 26 after halftime. Durant took complete control down the stretch, scoring seven consecutive points in the fourth quarter and assisting on a critical basket to give Houston a 101-100 lead with just over three minutes remaining — a lead they would not relinquish.
Houston’s rally was as sudden as it was stunning. Trailing 76-57 late in the third quarter after a dunk from Paolo Banchero, the Rockets unleashed a blistering 21-0 run over the next three and a half minutes. Rookie guard Reed Sheppard ignited the surge, knocking down three 3-pointers and scoring 11 points during that decisive stretch. Sheppard finished with 20 points off the bench, all but cementing his role as a key spark plug.
Houston’s long-range shooting told the story of two halves. After making just one of their first 12 attempts from beyond the arc, the Rockets caught fire late, hitting 10 of their final 17 3-pointers to complete the comeback.
Alperen Sengun contributed across the board with 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists, including the go-ahead layup off Durant’s pass in crunch time.
Orlando appeared in control for much of the night, thanks in large part to a scorching start from Desmond Bane, who led all Magic scorers with 30 points. Bane was perfect from deep in the first half, hitting all five of his 3-point attempts to help Orlando build a 53-43 halftime lead.
Banchero nearly recorded a triple-double with 19 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, while Jalen Suggs returned from injury in a limited role, scoring three points in 13 minutes off the bench.
The Magic briefly regained momentum midway through the fourth quarter, fueled by Bane’s shot-making, but Durant’s late-game heroics proved too much to overcome.
With the win, Houston carries momentum into its next matchup on the road against Miami on Saturday. Orlando, meanwhile, will look to regroup at home when they host Detroit on Sunday, still searching for answers after letting a commanding lead slip away.
