Kevin Durant of the Rockets who last scored 31,000 career points during a win against the Suns

Kevin Durant had 28 points and became the eighth player NBA history to score 31,000 career points as Houston Rockets turned to a 117-98 victory Phoenix Suns on Friday night.

Durant now joins an exclusive club that includes Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.

Friday’s contest was Durant’s first game against his former team since the emergency seven-team trade that sent Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to the Sun. Durant missed Houston’s 114-92 win over Phoenix on Nov. 24 due to personal reasons.

Amen Thompson scored a season-high 31 to help the Rockets to their fifth win in six games.

Durant made two free throws for his first points of the night and hit a mid-range jumper midway through the first quarter that allowed the 15-time All-Star to reach the historic milestone. Durant, who did not play in the fourth quarter, has 31,024 career points.

The Rockets trailed by as many as nine earlier, but used a 44-point second quarter, with 17 points from Durant, to take the lead.

Houston led by 11 with about 7 ½ minutes left in the third before going on a 16-2 run to make it 92-67 with about two minutes left in the quarter. Thompson had six points in that part, and Durant also Reed Sheppard both hit 3-pointers for Houston. Phoenix had five turnovers during the spurt.

Brooks had 23 points to lead the Suns, who lost for the third time in four games.

Houston played without Alperen Sengunwho missed the game due to illness. Steven Adams he started in his place and had four points and eight rebounds.

The Rockets played a spot for Brooks during pregame introductions and one for Green, who is out with a hamstring injury, between the first and second quarters. Both players received a hearty ovation from the crowd at the end of their videos.

Green spent the first four seasons in Houston after the club took the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft, and Brooks spent the previous two seasons with the Rockets.

Up Next

Sun: Visit Timberwolves Monday evening.

Rockets: Visit Mavericks Saturday night.

Associated Press reports.

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