NBA Friday: The Houston Rockets, with 32 points from Kevin Durant, stormed the court of the Detroit Pistons on Friday, the Indiana Pacers beat the Thunder in their return to Oklahoma City after losing the ring in 2025 and Hugo Gonzalez, with a three-pointer in the last second of overtime, saved the Boston Celtics in Brooklyn.
The Rockets defeated the Pistons 104-111, who had won four straight games and lead the Eastern Conference with a 32-11 record. But Kevin Durant has got the measure of Detroit, the team that has suffered the most in his long career. Alperen Sengun scored 19 points, Reed Sheppard 18 and Amen Thompson 15 for the Rockets (27-16), who are fourth in the West.
Sweet revenge of Indiana
The Pacers beat the Thunder 114-117 in their return to Oklahoma City, a city they had not visited since Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, won by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company.
Seven months later, the two 2025 finalists could not be in more opposite situations:
The Thunder (37-9) are the best team in the league and strong candidates to retain the title.
While the Pacers (11-35) are completing the worst season in their history.
Indiana survived Gilgeous-Alexander’s 47 points and Chet Holmgren’s 25 points and 13 rebounds.
Andrew Nembhard signed an excellent performance with 27 points and 10 assists for the Pacers.
Jarace Walker contributed 26 points, Pascal Siakam 21 and Aaron Nesmith 17.
Despite the win, that fateful NBA Finals will continue to haunt the Pacers:
Not only did the ring elude them, but they lost their star player, Tyrese Haliburton, with a torn Achilles tendon, ending the current season before it began.
Hugo González, ‘savior
Hugo Gonzalez was key in the Boston Celtics’ comeback win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.
With a three-pointer in the last second of overtime that took the game to a second overtime in which Joe Mazzulla’s men finally prevailed 126-130.
“There were two seconds left, the coach calls me to come in and tells me to try to catch it in the middle and give a pass to the outside guys, but they shut me down.”
“I get open in the corner, they give it to me and then I shoot and put it in,” Gonzalez described to Efe the play that saved the Celtics from defeat in Brooklyn.
Gonzalez finished with 10 points and 7 rebounds, a remarkable contribution to a Celtics team that had its best player in Jaylen Brown, who signed a triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.
The Celtics (28-16) are second in the NBA East, four wins behind the Pistons.
Kevin Durant has Detroit's number
QuéOnnda.com
NBA leaves an intense night
In addition to these NBA games, also this Friday the Denver Nuggets won 100-102 at Milwaukee despite virtually squandering a 23-point lead in the fourth quarter.
The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Sacramento Kings 123-118.
The Atlanta Hawks outlasted the Phoenix Suns 110-103 and, in Portland, the Trail Blazers fell 98-110 to the Toronto Raptors.
Finally, the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 127-133, with Santi Aldama ruled out due to knee discomfort.
With information from EFE
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