Şengün and Durant power Rockets past Wizards, 123-118, as Houston’s playoff push continues

Rockets win in Washington behind big nights from Alperen Şengün and Kevin Durant

The Houston Rockets continued their push up the Western Conference standings with a 123-118 road win over the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on Monday, March 2, 2026. Houston outscored Washington in three of four quarters and held off a late Wizards surge after carrying a double-digit advantage into the fourth.

The result underscored a familiar formula for Houston this season: high-end shot creation from Kevin Durant paired with interior scoring and playmaking from Alperen Şengün. Against a Washington team that kept scoring pressure on the game into the final minutes, the Rockets produced 123 points while leaning on their core options and steady guard play.

Key performances and game flow

Şengün led Houston with 32 points on 12-of-20 shooting and added 12 rebounds, delivering efficient scoring around the basket and on short-range touches. Durant reached 30 points, including 11-for-11 at the free-throw line, providing late-game stability as Washington tried to close the gap.

Rookie guard Reed Sheppard played a central role in managing the game’s tempo for Houston, finishing with 19 points, 10 assists and five steals. The Rockets’ best stretch came in the second quarter, when they turned a tie game into separation with a decisive run and took control of the middle quarters.

Houston won the second and third quarters 34-21 and 34-29, respectively, building an 18-point cushion that proved important when Washington scored 38 points in the fourth. The Rockets scored 29 in the final period, doing enough to prevent the Wizards from completing the comeback.

Wizards keep pace late, but Houston closes

Washington received strong perimeter shooting from Bilal Coulibaly, who scored 23 points and hit five of his seven 3-point attempts. Guard Sharife Cooper added 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting. The Wizards’ late scoring pushed the game into a one-possession window in the final minutes, but Houston’s combination of free throws and half-court execution held up.

What the win means for Houston

The victory added to a stretch in which Houston has leaned on its two-star foundation while building consistency through secondary playmaking and defensive activity from the guard line. In this game, Sheppard’s 10 assists and five steals reflected the type of two-way contribution Houston has emphasized in close road environments.

For Washington, the loss extended a difficult run and again showed the team’s ability to generate offense even when it struggles to keep opponents from scoring efficiently across four quarters.

• Final score: Rockets 123, Wizards 118
• Houston leaders: Alperen Şengün (32 points, 12 rebounds), Kevin Durant (30 points)
• Key support: Reed Sheppard (19 points, 10 assists, five steals)
• Washington leaders: Bilal Coulibaly (23 points, 5-of-7 from three), Sharife Cooper (21 points)

Houston won the second and third quarters by a combined 68-50, creating the margin it needed to survive Washington’s 38-point fourth quarter.