The Houston Rockets beat the Atlanta Hawks 121-114 on Saturday night for their first 3-0 start since the 2017-18 season, according to the Associated Press. The loss spoiled Atlanta's home opener after the Hawks had won their first two games on the road.
Kevin Durant led Houston with 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting. Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason scored 19 each, and Sheppard made 5 of 11 3-pointers after a 1-for-6 start to his season from deep, the AP said. Seven Rockets scored in double figures. Amen Thompson had 17 points and 11 rebounds for his third straight double-double, and Alperen Sengun had 17 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Houston led by 20, and Atlanta got within five in the closing moments before Durant made two free throws with 18.9 seconds left to restore a three-possession lead. The Rockets grabbed 13 offensive rebounds that led to 22 second-chance points and went 21 for 23 at the line.
Jalen Johnson had 26 points, nine rebounds and a career-high-tying 16 assists for Atlanta. Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 18 each, CJ McCollum added 17, and Aaron Wiggins scored 16 off the bench in his first home game since coming over from Oklahoma City in a summer trade. The Hawks are 2-1.
Two other late games have their own stories. Denver came back from 23 points down to beat New Orleans 141-135 in overtime behind 42 points from Jamal Murray and a Nikola Jokic triple-double (recap). In Phoenix, Devin Booker scored 43 as the Suns beat a Golden State team resting Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, 131-122 (recap). The Warriors are 0-3.
