This is what the Houston Rockets envisioned whenthey traded for Kevin Durant.
The former MVP and 15-time All-Star scored 39 points to push the Rockets to a 110-105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in a clash of top Western Conference contenders. Durant totaled a season-high, draining 6-of-8 3-pointers while shooting 11-for-18 from the floor. He also made 11-of-14 free throws.
Durant has scored 30 or more points in 14 games for the Rockets this season. Friday's performance follows up a 19-point game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in which he shot 7-for-23 and 0-for-5 on 3-pointers.
TR3Y BALLpic.twitter.com/pUOsZNRZAb
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets)January 17, 2026
Alperin Sengun added 25 points and 14 rebounds for Houston, though he fouled out after committing an offensive foul with 1:19 remaining. Amen Thompson scored 14 points with 7 boards, while Reed Sheppard also tallied 14 (hitting 4-of-6 3-pointers).
Minnesota held a narrow 82-81 lead after a tightly contested third quarter. But the Rockets outscored the T-Wolves 19-9 midway through the fourth quarter to take a 100-91 lead on a 3-pointer by Jabari Smith Jr. Durant scored 10 points during that run.
JULIUS RANDLE. BULLY BALL.pic.twitter.com/GI2z94zyVd
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves)January 17, 2026
However, Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels led the T-Wolves on a 12-5 surge, trimming the Rockets' lead to 105-103 with 1:09 remaining in regulation. From there, Durant made four free throws to boost Houston's lead to 109-103 with 22.1 seconds left.
Randle also scored 39 points on 14-of-25 shooting from the floor (also hitting 9 of 11 free throws). Naz Reid contributed 25 points and 10 boards off the bench, knocking down 5 of 7 3s. Rudy Gobert added 13 rebounds with his 10 points.
Anthony Edwards did not play for Minnesota,sitting out his second consecutive gamewith a right foot injury. Altogether, the T-Wolves star has missed nine games this season with his right foot issues and a previous hamstring injury. With a back-to-back game scheduled for Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs, Edwards missing a third straight game seems likely.
Friday's matchup was the first of the season between the Timberwolves and Rockets. With the loss, Minnesota drops to 27-15 but has still won seven of its past 10 games. Houston improves to 24-15 with the win, yet has lost five of its last eight games. The Rockets are 1.5 games behind the T-Wolves, holding the fifth spot inthe Western Conference standings.
