How Kevin Durant made NBA history with 40 points against the Magic
Kevin Durant he led Houston Rockets to a 113-108 win on the road against the Orlando Magic on Thursday night, and in doing so achieved a stunning piece of history that underscores both the positive and negative aspects of his Hall of Fame career. The 37-year-old forward became the only player to ever score 40 or more points in a regular season game with five different teamsvia ClutchPoints.
This fantastic feat speaks to the offensive magnificence that Durant has displayed for nearly two decades, and also calls attention to how far the man has come in the last 10 years. The two-time NBA Finals MVP is one of the best scorers to ever grace the hardwood, but his habit of leaving the team when the going gets tough is often used against him in legacy conversations. Although, if he can help the Rockets win their first title since 1995, the narrative will change immediately.
Houston (37-21) has had some bumps at times on the road this season, but sits in third place in the Western Conference through 58 games. If Durant is healthy, this group should be quite dangerous in the playoffs. He was consistently excellent, averaging 26.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while knocking down 40.2 percent of his three-pointers.
Rockets head coach The name Udoka wants others to step up around the aging star, but also knows that the franchise’s path to the Larry O’Brien Trophy rests heavily on Durant’s silky smooth stroke. Fans have tremendous faith in the team’s long-term future, with Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson forming an exciting young core (Reid Shepard could join them soon). The question is, though, is the four-time goal-scoring champion aligned with their schedule?
Kevin Durant will look to continue lighting up the scoreboard and hope his teammates continue to grow as the campaign progresses. He has two years left on his contract, including a $46 million player option in 2027-28), so it remains to be seen whether the 11-time All-NBA selection will drop 40 for a sixth franchise before retiring.
2026-02-28 00:25:00
