NBA: Kevin Durant buries Pelicans at the buzzer and pushes Houston into Top 3 in the West

A nail-biter. The Rockets leaned on their superstar. Kevin Durant drained the go-ahead shot with seconds left to give Houston a precious 107-105 win over the Pelicans. The victory lifts Houston into third in an ultra-tight Western Conference.

And once again, when things got messy, the ball landed in Durant’s hands.

Kevin Durant slices through in the clutch

The game looked headed for chaos. New Orleans still held a one-point lead with only seconds to play when Houston gave Durant the ball.

Immediate payoff. A dead-eye mid-range jumper with 7,6 seconds left — pure Durant.

He finished with 32 points, six rebounds and five assists, two days after a quieter night in Denver. Consider that a swift reply from a future Hall of Famer.

Kevin Durant 32 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 13/24 FG, 3/7 3FG, 62.1% TS vs Pelicans https://t.co/4Ih9MVxch5 pic.twitter.com/UsNLHQFvdV

— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) March 14, 2026

Houston steady around their star

Durant delivered the knockout, but the Rockets got help.

Amen Thompson had 23, Reed Sheppard 18, and Jabari Smith Jr. 16 — the kind of support you need when every possession counts.

The win also kicks off a five-game homestand for Houston.

Dejounte Murray impressive but frustrated

For the Pelicans, Dejounte Murray put up a huge night. The guard finished with 35 points, hitting 14 of 18 shots and four triples.

Dejounte Murray 35 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 14/18 FG, 4/5 3FG, 86.6% TS vs Rockets https://t.co/5ZIVMxnJUE pic.twitter.com/JulFV9VXv6

— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) March 14, 2026

But the last minute will sting. With New Orleans up by one, Murray stepped out with 13 seconds left, gifting Houston one final possession.

That mistake handed Durant the shot.

Zion Williamson added 21, but a turnover in the closing seconds sealed the result.

Houston settles into the West battle

This win pushes Houston up the West standings — a place where one victory can flip the pecking order.

For the Pelicans it’s a frustrating setback after winning three of their last four.

Next up for New Orleans: hosting Dallas.

Houston, meanwhile, faces a high-profile two-game set with the Lakers.

And with Durant able to decide a game in seconds, the Rockets know they have a weapon that’ll cause problems the rest of the season.

See the rest of the sports news on Mathodds!