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Jan 18, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets ahead Kevin Durant (7) shakes palms with head coach Ime Udoka after leaving the sport in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans through the fourth quarter at Toyota Heart. Obligatory Credit score: Erik Williams-Imagn Pictures Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant scored 18 factors on Sunday evening to go Dirk Nowitzki and transfer into sixth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring listing.
Durant made two free throws with 15.2 seconds left in Houston’s 119-110 residence win over the New Orleans Pelicans. That elevated his profession level complete to 31,562. Nowitzki, the previous Dallas Mavericks star, had 31,560 throughout his stellar profession.
Subsequent on the listing for Durant to chase down is known Michael Jordan (32,292).
Durant discovered it’s surreal to be within the firm of Nowitzki and Jordan.
“To be up there with Dirk, any person I regarded as much as, I idolized, I competed in opposition to,” Durant mentioned. “We had some nice battles. He all the time was supportive of my profession and my recreation. So, you already know to be up there with a legend like that, it is simply insane. And be proper underneath Michael Jordan, it is loopy man.
“I need to proceed to maintain stacking, maintain climbing up the charts, simply see how I end. It has been wonderful to date.”
After the sport ended, a video message from Nowitzki was performed contained in the Toyota Heart.
“Not tremendous completely happy about him passing me, however no, severely, to me, he is likely one of the purest, smoothest scorers the sport has ever seen,” Nowitzki mentioned. “… It has been unbelievable to observe his profession. Like I mentioned, he is one of many purest scorers this recreation has ever seen. And so congrats KD, maintain it going. Transfer up a pair extra spots and stick with it.”
Durant, 37, is averaging 26.1 factors in 38 video games this season, his 18th within the NBA. The Rockets are his fifth group.
–Area Degree Media
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