NBA Notes: Rockets, Kevin Durant, Raptors, Brandon Ingram, Pistons

Rockets

Kevin Durant delivered when the Rockets needed it most.

Durant knocked down a go-ahead 18-footer with 7.6 seconds remaining as Houston slipped past the visiting Pelicans, 107-105, on Friday night. The win pushed the Rockets into third place in a tightly packed Western Conference race.

Durant finished with 32 points on 13-of-24 shooting, adding six rebounds and five assists. The bounce-back effort came just two nights after he matched his season low with 11 points in a lopsided loss at the Nuggets.

Amen Thompson contributed 23 points for Houston in the opener of a five-game homestand. Rookie Reed Sheppard added 18 points and Jabari Smith Jr. chipped in 16.

Raptors

Brandon Ingram had the hot hand as the Raptors staged a late rally to beat the visiting Suns, 122-115.

Ingram poured in 36 points, while RJ Barrett added 22 and delivered a key three pointer late. Immanuel Quickley scored 17 for Toronto, with Scottie Barnes adding 14 and Ja’Kobe Walter finishing with 12.

Toronto trailed by 10 midway through the fourth quarter before ripping off a 13-2 run that swung the momentum for good.

The victory snapped a four-game winning streak for Phoenix and ended a two-game skid for Toronto.

Pistons

The Pistons are rolling again.

Jalen Duren finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds while Cade Cunningham added 17 points and 15 assists in a 126-110 home win over the Grizzlies.

Detroit has now won three straight games by an average of more than 25 points after dropping four in a row before that.

Marcus Sasser scored 16 points and the Pistons placed seven players in double figures.

Memphis tried to slow Cunningham early by blitzing and trapping him, holding him to seven points in the first half. But Detroit adjusted after the break, with Cunningham orchestrating the offense and helping the Pistons take control in the third quarter.

(The Associated Press contributed to this post.)