Kevin Durant scored 31 points as the Houston Rockets bounced back from a controversial overtime loss to beat the Denver Nuggets 115-101 on Sunday (all time AEDT) in a game full of spice.
Additionally, one Australian set a new career high, but another came crashing down to earth during his team’s horrifying loss to the NBA’s worst team.
Houston coach Ime Udoka was fined $25,000 by the NBA earlier this week after lashing out at the referee during the Rockets’ 128-125 loss to Denver.
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But the Rockets avenged that loss with a hard-fought victory as the Western Conference rivals faced off again in Denver.
Durant delivered a talismanic performance that included five three-pointers, while Reed Sheppard came off the bench to score 28 points after scoring six of nine from beyond the arc.
Durant was involved in an angry exchange with Denver’s Bruce Brown late in the third quarter, which saw both players separated by their teammates.
Brown then refused to elaborate on what happened between him and Durant.
“Some of the words said were a little disrespectful,” Brown said.
“I can’t wait to see him next time. There are some things you don’t say to another man.”
Durant seemed baffled by the argument, while admitting that he deliberately took a combative approach to the game.
“I definitely wanted to cross the finish line tonight,” Durant said.
“That’s basketball…it’s part of the game. Some people can talk and play. Some people can’t. I had to learn how to talk and play as a player.
“I think Bruce is probably learning the same thing.”
This happened during a match. Nuggets coach David Adelman was ejected for losing to the referees in the fourth quarter when Nikola Jokic was double-teamed on a play.
Houston improved to 17-8 with the win to remain fifth in the Western Conference, while Denver is third in the standings at 20-7.
The Rockets are now 2-1 in the regular season matchup between the two West contenders, with another battle scheduled for March.
FURPHY SETS A HIGH CAREER AS LANDALE AND GRIZ RETURN TO EARTH
Johnny Furphy scored a career-high 18 points in Indiana’s 128-109 loss to New Orleans, earning him praise from his coach.
Furphy really took advantage of his second-high 23 minutes as he accelerated in his return from an ankle injury, even though seven of his points came in unnecessary time.
The 21-year-old Australian shot 7 of 10 from the field and a perfect 3 of 3 from the free throw line, adding a triple and two rebounds with a +12 plus/minus.
“He had one of his best games against a Pacer,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said after the game.
Furphy, who surpassed his previous career high by 17 points, should continue to see more opportunities for the short-handed Pacers, who fell to 6-22 overall.
Meanwhile, it was a tough night for Jock Landale’s Memphis Grizzlies.
Memphis suffered a horror second-half loss to NBA-worst Washington 130-122 in a game Memphis led by as much as 2o.
This came just days after one of Memphis’ biggest wins of the season when Tuomas Iisalo’s team toppled Minnesota on the road in a game where Landale shined.
But Landale came back down to earth with five points on 2-of-10 shooting and seven rebounds Sunday and Washington won its first game in Memphis since January 2018.
Trailing by 15 at halftime, the Wizards dominated the second half 77-54, including a 42-27 blitz in the third quarter.
Kyshawn George and CJ McCollum scored 28 each in the clash and Washington improved to 5-21 on the season.
For Memphis, Santi Aldama scored a career-high 37 points with 10 rebounds off the bench and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 22 points.
But Jackson fouled out in the final minutes and the Grizzlies, still missing Ja Morant and Zach Edey, fell to 13-15 after winning nine of their previous 12 games.
Next, the Griz travel to OKC on Tuesday for a tough matchup against the NBA’s 25-3 best Thunder, who are coming off a rare loss to Minnesota.
OTHERWISE…
In Toronto, Payton Pritchard’s 33 points helped the Boston Celtics defeat the Raptors 112-96.
Pritchard added eight rebounds and 10 assists while five other Boston players finished in double figures as the Celtics improved to 17-11.
In Philadelphia, number one draft picks Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis scored 24 points each, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Dallas Mavericks from sliding to a 121-114 loss to the 76ers, inspired by a 38-point burst from Tyrese Maxey.
ALL SHEET MUSIC
Rockets 115 Nuggets 101
Nonconformists 114 76ers 121
Celtics 112 Raptors 96
Pacers 109 Pelicans 128
Hornets 86 Pistons 112
Wizards 130 Grizzlies 122
Suns 116 Warriors 119
Magic 128 Jazz 127 (extension)
TrailBlazers 98 Kings 93
Lakers 88 Mowers 103
