Kevin Durant scored 22 points to lead seven double-figure scorers as the visiting Houston Rockets defeated the Atlanta Hawks 121-114 on Saturday night at State Farm Arena, improving their early-season record to 3-0.
The victory marks the first time Houston has opened a season with three consecutive wins since the 2017-18 campaign, when the franchise posted a team-record 65 victories and advanced to the Western Conference finals. The result also extends Houston’s winning streak against Atlanta to five games. The two teams are scheduled to meet again on Monday in Houston.
Defense and perimeter shooting proved decisive against an Atlanta squad that had averaged 130 points while winning its first two games. The Rockets held the high-scoring Hawks to a season-low point total, largely by capitalizing on Atlanta’s struggles from beyond the arc. The Hawks made just 5 of 22 3-point attempts in the first half, including a cold 1-of-10 stretch in the second quarter, and finished the game shooting 13 of 48 (27.1 percent) from long range. By contrast, Houston shot 40 percent from deep, converting 14 of 35 attempts.
Houston’s balanced offensive attack featured 19 points apiece from Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard. Sheppard drew the start in place of Fred VanVleet, who sat out due to right knee load management. Inside and on the boards, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson each contributed 17 points. Sengun added 10 rebounds to record a double-double, while Thompson pulled down 11 boards.
Atlanta was paced by Jalen Johnson, who narrowly missed a triple-double with 26 points, 16 assists, and nine rebounds. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels each chipped in 18 points for the Hawks, and CJ McCollum added 17.
The game began after a 30-minute delay to accommodate the Atlanta Dream’s WNBA Finals game earlier in the afternoon. The adjusted schedule meant the Rockets did not arrive in Atlanta until after 5 a.m. local time, though the late arrival did little to disrupt their rhythm.
Atlanta opened the contest with the first seven points, but Houston quickly answered with a 10-1 run to grab a 10-8 lead. Fueled by 10 first-quarter points from Atlanta-area native Jabari Smith Jr., the Rockets established a 30-26 advantage by the end of the opening period. Houston steadily built on that margin, leading by as many as 11 points before taking a 59-48 lead into halftime.
The Rockets extended their advantage to 20 points at 108-88 in the fourth quarter. However, Atlanta mounted a late surge, stringing together a 9-0 run that cut the deficit to five points with 37 seconds remaining. Durant secured the win for Houston by sinking two free throws with 19 seconds left on the clock.
