Eight straight! Kevin Durant scores 29 as Rockets (51-29) beat Sixers

HOUSTON -- Kevin Durant scored a game-high 29 points on elite efficiency as the Rockets defeated the visiting Philadelphia 76ers, 113-102 (box score).

Thursday’s victory gives the Rockets (51-29) eight straight wins for the first time this season. Houston remains tied with Lakers for the No. 4 spot in the tightly packed Western Conference standings, though Los Angeles does hold the tiebreaker.

Two regular-season games are left to play for both teams.

Durant, 37, made 10-of-18 shots (55.6%) versus the Sixers, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range (50.0%). The All-Star forward also tallied 7 rebounds and 5 assists, and the Rockets were +17 in his 38 minutes played.

The Rockets led by as many as 28 points in the third quarter, though they had to withstand a furious rally in which the Sixers closed the gap to as little as five points late in the fourth quarter. Fortunately for the home team, Durant hit a dagger 3-pointer with just over a minute remaining to put the game away.

Other statistics of note included:

• Amen Thompson: 19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 turnovers, 4 assists, 3 steals; 7-of-14 shooting (50.0%), 5-of-8 on free throws (62.5%)
• Jabari Smith Jr.: 19 points, 5 rebounds; 7-of-15 shooting (46.7%), 4-of-6 on free throws (66.7%)
• Tari Eason: 15 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals; 5-of-10 shooting, 3-of-6 on 3-pointers (50.0%)
• Josh Okogie: 9 points, 11 rebounds; 4-of-8 shooting, 1-of-2 on 3-pointers (50.0%)
• Alperen Sengun: 8 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assistsl 4-of-14 shooting (28.6%)
• VJ Edgecombe (Sixers): 21 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals; 7-of-17 shooting (41.2%), 3-of-8 on 3-pointers (37.5%)
• Tyrese Maxey (Sixers): 23 points, 5 assists; 9-of-20 shooting (45.0%), 5-of-10 on 3-pointers (50.0%)

Next up for the Rockets is Friday’s matchup versus Minnesota (47-33), which is already locked into the West’s No. 6 spot and may not have as much incentive to play for.

The game will be televised and streamed regionally via Space City Home Network and nationally via Prime Video and NBA League Pass. Tipoff versus the Timberwolves is at 8:30 p.m. Central from Toyota Center, where the Rockets are now 29-10 this season.

More: ‘Toyota Center Reimagined’: Rockets launch $180M arena upgrade project

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Eight straight! Kevin Durant scores 29 as Rockets (51-29) beat Sixers