Kevin Durant scored 28 points and Alperen Şengün recorded 23 points and 11 assists as the Houston Rockets made the key plays down the stretch to defeat the Chicago Bulls 119–113 on Tuesday night.
The game featured 35 lead changes, with neither team able to create separation until Houston surged in the final minutes. Trailing by one with about 3½ minutes remaining, the Rockets went on a decisive 7–2 run to take a 110–106 lead. Durant sparked the stretch with a dunk, and Jabari Smith Jr. followed with a timely 3-pointer.
Chicago stayed within striking distance when Tre Jones scored on a layup, but Smith answered again, first with a jumper and then a 3 from the top of the key to push the Rockets’ lead to 115–108 with about 1:30 left.
After Kevin Huerter converted a layup for the Bulls, Durant punctuated the night with a powerful dunk that gave Houston a 117–110 advantage with less than a minute remaining, effectively sealing the win.
Amen Thompson added 23 points for Houston, while Smith scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as the Rockets snapped a three-game losing streak.
Jones led Chicago with a career-high 34 points, but the Bulls dropped their fourth game in five outings.
Houston led by six with about eight minutes left before Chicago responded with a 7–0 run, highlighted by 3-pointers from Isaac Okoro and Ayo Dosunmu, to take a 99–98 lead midway through the fourth. The back-and-forth continued as Thompson knocked down a 3 to put the Rockets ahead, only for Matas Buzelis to answer moments later for Chicago.
After Thompson made two free throws, a turnover by Durant led to a basket by Buzelis that put the Bulls up 104–103 with 3½ minutes remaining. Houston then closed the game with composure, fueled by Durant and Smith, to pull away late.
Up next: The Bulls host Utah on Wednesday night, while the Rockets return home to face Oklahoma City on Thursday.
