Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant swung a 3-pointer with 7:57 left in the third quarter Friday night to move into seventh on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, but couldn’t prevent a 111-105 loss to the host Portland Trail Blazers.
Durant’s streak allowed him to pass the legendary Wilt Chamberlain (31,419) during Friday night’s game.
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The 3-pointer gave him 17 points on the night and pushed Durant’s career total to 31,422. Durant finished with 30 points and has 31,435 career points.
Durant tied Chamberlain’s total with 1:53 left in the second quarter with a rebound on a free-throw line turnaround jumper. Houston led 56-55 at halftime.
Durant passed Chamberlain in his 1,156th career game. Chamberlain played 1,045 games in a 14-year career from 1959-73 with the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers.
Next to chase Durant is sixth-leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki (31,560), the former Dallas Mavericks star. Barring injury, Durant is on pace to overtake Nowitzki later this month.
LeBron James is the leading scorer in NBA history with 42,601 career points after a 26-point effort in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 105-101 home loss against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) is the second leading scorer in NBA history. Karl Malone (36,928), Kobe Bryant (33,643) and Michael Jordan (32,292) round out the top five.
The NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Memphis Grizzlies
Jalen Williams scored 26 points and Kenrich Williams added 21 as the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder erased a 21-point third-quarter deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 117-116 on Friday.
Kenrich Williams hit a three-pointer with 1:07 left and Alex Caruso blocked a last-gasp shot by Grizzlies guard Cedric Coward in the final seconds as the Thunder won, despite missing NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and center Chet Holmgren.
Gilgeous-Alexander was sidelined with a sprained ankle while Holmgren was nursing an injured shin, both joining Isiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams on OKC’s injured list.
“Great resiliency by the team,” Thunder coach Marc Daigneault said. “There were a lot of moments that game where we were trying to break and something would happen that would blow us back in the face.
“And yet the team just kept competing,” added Daignault after the Thunder improved their league-best record to 32-7.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Memphis, which had the Thunder on the ropes at night despite the continued absence of Ja Morant and the uncertainty surrounding trade rumors swirling around their star guard.
Morant missed his fourth straight game with a calf injury amid reports that the Grizzlies would consider a trade offer for him.
Coach Tuomas Aisalo declined to comment on pre-tournament reports, saying the team’s full focus is on the clash with the reigning champions.
Aisalo said the Grizzlies didn’t maintain their level in the second half.
“They’re a very experienced team,” he said. “They’ve been in a lot of pressure situations and know how to turn them to their advantage, and we’re learning that.”
The Bucks, Golden State and Celtics also win
The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Lakers 105-101 in Los Angeles.
Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points with four free throws in the final 16.2 seconds.
Giannis Antetokounmpo added 21 points and, in the waning seconds, made a big block on LeBron James and stole a crucial James pass to seal the win.
James led the Lakers with 26 points and added 24 before being fouled by Luka Doncic with 16.2 seconds left, when his foul on Porter’s three-point attempt brought Porter to the line, where he made two of three to put the Bucks up 103-101.
After Antetokounmpo stripped the ball away from James, Porter added two more free throws for insurance.
Golden State star Stephen Curry scored 27 points and had 10 of 39 assists for the Warriors in an impressive 137-103 win over Sacramento.
In Boston, the Celtics led by as many as 20 points en route to a 125-117 victory over the Toronto Raptors, entering the contest on a three-game winning streak that pulled them within one game of Boston for third place in the East.
Peyton Pritchard scored 27 points to lead six Celtics players in double figures. Jaylen Brown added 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.