Durant Drops 40, Faces Miami
Kevin Durant exploded for 40 points in Houston's win over Orlando, becoming the oldest Rocket to score that many in a game while passing 32,000 career points. The Rockets now face Miami in their next matchup, with Durant squaring off against Heat defensive anchor Bam Adebayo.
With his latest offensive outburst, Kevin Durant now stands as one of only six players in NBA history to score 32,000 career points. The 37-year-old joins the elite company of LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan. The 40-point effort against Orlando was a season-high for Durant, who willed the Rockets to a comeback victory after they trailed by 19 points in the third quarter. He scored 26 of his points in the second half, leading Houston on a 21-0 run to turn the tide. This performance also made Durant the oldest player in Houston Rockets franchise history to score 40 points in a game. It marked the 431st 30-point game of his career, tying him with Kobe Bryant for the fifth-most in league history. Next on the all-time scoring list for Durant is Michael Jordan, who sits in fifth place with 32,292 points. The Rockets, currently third in the Western Conference with a 37-21 record, are riding a three-game winning streak into their matchup with Miami. The Heat hold a 31-28 record and are second in the Southeast Division. Historically, the Heat have had the upper hand in their matchups against the Rockets, leading the all-time regular season series 42-34. In their 13 head-to-head matchups, Durant holds a 9-4 winning record over Adebayo.
