Rockets vs. Hawks: Kevin Durant scores 22 as Houston spoils Atlanta's home opener 121-114 for a 3-0 start

The Houston Rockets are rolling. Kevin Durant scored 22 points, Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason added 19 each, and Houston beat the Atlanta Hawks 121-114 on Saturday night, Oct. 24, at State Farm Arena. The win gave the Rockets their first 3-0 start since the 2017-18 season and spoiled Atlanta’s home opener.

Atlanta made it interesting late, cutting a 20-point deficit to five in the closing moments. Durant made two free throws with 18.9 seconds left to push the lead back to three possessions, according to the Associated Press.

Rockets vs. Hawks final score and box score highlights

Rockets leaders (seven players in double figures): - Kevin Durant: 22 points - Reed Sheppard: 19 points, 7 assists, 5 of 11 from 3 - Tari Eason: 19 points off the bench - Amen Thompson: 17 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists - Alperen Sengun: 17 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists - Jabari Smith Jr.: 14 points - Bogdan Bogdanovic: 11 points

Hawks leaders: - Jalen Johnson: 26 points, 9 rebounds, 16 assists - Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 18 points - Dyson Daniels: 18 points, 8 rebounds - CJ McCollum: 17 points - Aaron Wiggins: 16 points off the bench

How Houston built the lead

The Rockets led 59-48 at halftime after Durant hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left in the second quarter. They pushed the lead to 20 in the third, going up 85-65 on a Bogdanovic 3-pointer, and led by 20 again midway through the fourth.

Offensive rebounding was a big part of it. The AP noted that the Rockets, who led the NBA in offensive rebounds last season, grabbed 13 more on Saturday, leading to 22 second-chance points.

Thompson posted his third straight double-double, and Sengun added one of his own. Sheppard, who shot 43% from 3-point range last season, broke out of a 1-for-6 start to the season with five made 3-pointers.

Atlanta’s cold shooting

The Hawks were hurt by their shooting from deep. The AP had Atlanta going 12 of 45 from 3-point range, including 5 of 22 in the first half. The CBS Sports box score lists the Hawks at 13 of 49. Either way, it was well below Houston’s 14 of 35.

Johnson did nearly everything for Atlanta. His 16 assists tied his career high, according to the AP. Wiggins, acquired from Oklahoma City in a summer trade, made a strong impression in his first home game with the Hawks, scoring 16 points off the bench.

Atlanta had won its first two games of the season on the road and is now 2-1.

Rematch on Monday

The two teams don’t have to wait long for a rematch. The Rockets and Hawks play the second half of a home-and-home on Monday in Houston, the AP reported.

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