Get ready, basketball fans! Kevin Durant is on the cusp of etching his name even deeper into NBA history! This Sunday night, as the Houston Rockets face off against the New Orleans Pelicans, KD is just 17 points away from surpassing the legendary Dirk Nowitzki and claiming the coveted 6th spot on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Talk about a milestone!
Durant, who currently boasts an impressive 31,544 regular-season points, is no stranger to breaking records. Earlier this month, he already leapfrogged Wilt Chamberlain, securing the 7th position in a road game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
But here's where it gets exciting: the matchup against the Pelicans at the Toyota Center. Rockets fans, if you're hoping to witness history, you're in luck. Durant's chances of hitting those 17 points are looking incredibly promising.
In his 37 games with the Rockets this season, Durant has only failed to score at least 17 points in a mere three of them. Conversely, he's exploded for 30 or more points a whopping 14 times! Remember that first clash against the Pelicans this year? Durant dropped 32 points in an overtime thriller.
And this is the part most people miss: Durant's scoring has been on a tear lately. He's having his highest-scoring month of the season in January, averaging a remarkable 28.7 points per game on 50% shooting from the field across nine appearances. He's cleared the 17-point hurdle in every single one of those January games.
Of course, the Rockets haven't had the smoothest month as a team, with a 4-5 record in January so far, including a tough 1-4 stretch against teams below .500. This puts them at 24-15 for the season, holding the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference.
Now, let's talk about the Pelicans. They've been struggling, to say the least, with the worst record in the NBA at 10-34, and winning only two of their last 14 games. They have Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III, who are both averaging 22 points per game, but their defense has been a major liability, allowing over 122 points per game (ranking 28th in the NBA) and nearly 15 three-pointers per contest (ranking 29th).
The game is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. Keep an eye on Rockets forward Tari Eason, who's a game-time decision due to an ankle injury.
What do you think? Will Durant make history on Sunday night? Let us know in the comments! Do you think the Pelicans will be able to contain KD? Share your thoughts below!
