Rockets 113, 76ers 102: Durant leads Houston at home

The Houston Rockets defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 113-102 on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Toyota Center, with Kevin Durant leading all scorers with 29 points in a balanced home win. Houston built control through the first three quarters, then held off a late Philadelphia push to improve to 50-29.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter

Houston set the tone early by outscoring Philadelphia 35-26 in the opening period. The Rockets found a steady offensive rhythm right away, getting quality looks and using their size on the glass to create extra chances. Philadelphia kept contact for stretches, but Houston’s efficiency gave the home team a nine-point edge after one.

Second Quarter

The Rockets extended that advantage in the second, winning the quarter 38-30. Philadelphia had productive moments offensively, especially from Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, but Houston continued to answer. By halftime, the Rockets had put up 73 points and carried a 17-point lead, putting pressure on the 76ers to respond after the break.

Third Quarter

Houston tightened the game further in the third, limiting Philadelphia to 17 points while adding 23 of its own. That stretch proved to be the decisive segment of the night. The Rockets controlled the boards, stayed organized defensively, and pushed the margin to 96-73 entering the fourth quarter.

Fourth Quarter

Philadelphia made the final score more competitive with a 29-17 fourth quarter. The 76ers played with more urgency, cutting into the deficit behind Maxey’s scoring and improved ball movement. Still, the Rockets had built enough separation through 36 minutes to close out the result without overtime.

Key Performers

Houston Rockets
Kevin Durant led Houston with 29 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, delivering the game’s top scoring performance and helping steady the offense throughout the night. Alperen Sengun led the Rockets on the glass with 12 rebounds as Houston finished with a 52-47 edge in total rebounds. Houston also shot 45.2 percent from the field and went 11-for-32 from three-point range.

Philadelphia 76ers
Tyrese Maxey paced the 76ers with 23 points. VJ Edgecombe added 21 points, six rebounds, and eight assists in an all-around effort, while Andre Drummond collected 15 rebounds to anchor Philadelphia’s work on the interior. The 76ers shot 44.7 percent from the field and matched Houston with 11 made threes, but they could not fully recover from the early deficit.

NerdSports Stat: Houston scored 96 points through three quarters and still won by 11 despite putting up only 17 in the fourth, meaning 85.0% of the Rockets’ offense came before the final period.

Game Analysis

This game was decided more by Houston’s control over the first three quarters than by any single late-game sequence. The Rockets were sharper early, built a 17-point halftime lead, and then expanded it with their best defensive quarter of the night in the third. That sequence gave them enough margin to absorb Philadelphia’s late response.

The rebounding edge also mattered. Houston’s 52-47 advantage helped it finish with more total shot attempts, 93 to 85, which provided a useful cushion in a game where both teams were identical from three-point range at 34.4 percent. The Rockets were not dominant at the free-throw line, but their extra possessions and balanced offense made the difference.

For Philadelphia, the offense was productive in the first half and again in the fourth, but the third-quarter slowdown proved too costly. The 76ers managed just 17 points in that frame, and that stretch prevented their playmakers from putting sustained pressure on Houston late.

Closing Context

With the win, Houston improved to 50-29 and continued to strengthen its position in the Western Conference heading into the closing stretch of the regular season. Philadelphia fell to 43-36, a result that keeps the Eastern Conference race tight as the 76ers look to secure their postseason placement. For Houston, this was another useful home result built on early execution and consistent production from its top scorers.

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