Durant ‘crosses line,’ in rockets payback time

LOS ANGELES – Kevin Durant scored 31 points as the Houston Rockets bounced back from a controversial overtime loss to beat the Denver Nuggets 115-101 on Saturday.

Houston coach Ime Udoka was fined $25,000 by the NBA earlier this week after lambasting the officiating in the Rockets’ 128-125 defeat to Denver on Monday.

But the Rockets avenged that loss with a hard-fought victory as the Western Conference rivals faced off again in Denver on Saturday.

Durant delivered a talismanic performance which included five three-pointers, while Reed Sheppard came off the bench to score 28 points after making six-of-nine from outside the arc.

Durant was involved in an angry exchange with Denver’s Bruce Brown late in the third quarter which saw both players separated by teammates.

Brown later refused to elaborate on what had happened between him and Durant.

“Some words were said that were a little bit disrespectful,” Brown said. “I can’t wait to see him next time. There are certain things you don’t say to another man.”

Durant appeared nonplussed by the spat, while admitting that he had deliberately taken a combative approach into the game.

“I definitely wanted to cross the line tonight,” Durant said.

“That’s basketball... it’s part of the game. Some people can talk and play. Some people can’t. I had to learn how to talk and play as a player.

“I think Bruce is probably learning the same thing.”

Houston improved to 17-8 with the win to remain fifth in the Western Conference, while Denver are third in the table at 20-7.

In Toronto, Payton Pritchard’s 33 points helped the Boston Celtics to a 112-96 defeat of the Raptors.

Pritchard added eight rebounds and 10 assists while five other Boston players finished in double figures as the Celtics improved to 17-11.

In Philadelphia, number one draft pick Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis scored 24 points apiece but it was not enough to prevent the Dallas Mavericks from slipping to a 121-114 loss to the 76ers, who were inspired by a 38-point salvo from Tyrese Maxey.