Deadspin | Kevin Durant scores 29 as Rockets hold off 76ers for 8th straight win Apr 9, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) shoots against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images Kevin Durant scored a game-high 29 points and drilled a critical late 3-pointer that helped the host Houston Rockets fend off the hard-charging Philadelphia 76ers 113-102 on Thursday. The Rockets extended their winning streak to eight games but had to sweat out the final minutes. The 76ers (43-37) shaved a 28-point third-quarter deficit to 107-102 when VJ Edgecombe followed a pair of missed free throws by Durant with a short jumper with 1:36 to play. However, Durant nailed a 3-pointer on the next possession to settle the game for the Rockets (51-29) once and for all. Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson added 19 points apiece for Houston while Tari Eason added 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Alperen Sengun (12) and Josh Okogie (10) combined for 22 rebounds. The 76ers played without Joel Embiid, who underwent an emergency appendectomy earlier on Thursday. Tyrese Maxey paced Philadelphia with 23 points while Edgecombe added 21 points, six rebounds and a game-high eight assists. Andre Drummond grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds. The 76ers have dropped three straight games and four of six. Eason sank a 3-pointer with 2:44 remaining in the third that pushed the Rockets to a 96-68 lead. But the 76ers, behind reserve Quentin Grimes (20 points), engineered a stunning rally in the fourth, starting with a 16-0 run that included the Rockets going scoreless for more than four minutes. After turning a 9-0 spurt into a 17-10 lead, Houston added a 13-3 blitz capped by a Thompson dunk that pushed the margin to 33-20. The 76ers committed three turnovers during the second Houston run and had six total in the opening period that the Rockets converted into 12 points. The Rockets entered the second with a 35-26 advantage and continued to extend that margin. Reed Sheppard sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers around a Durant field goal that lifted Houston to a 65-47 lead with 3:47 left in the half, and the Rockets opened a 23-point cushion before Maxey caught fire. Maxey, held scoreless in the first quarter, tallied 15 points in the second, including the final eight for the 76ers in the half. His consecutive treys down the stretch cut the deficit to 73-56 entering halftime. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Kevin #Durant #scores #Rockets #hold #76ers #8th #straight #win

Deadspin | A’s use timely hits, stellar bullpen to claim series win vs. Royals Apr 30, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) rounds third base on his way to score during the second inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images Nick Kurtz highlighted a four-run second inning with a two-RBI double, four relievers combined for six strong innings and the Athletics finished off a series win over the visiting Kansas City Royals with a 6-3 victory on Thursday afternoon in Sacramento. Jacob Wilson and Shea Langeliers combined for five hits and four runs atop the lineup, helping the A’s win a second straight game over the Royals and capture their third consecutive 2-1 series win. After the teams traded single runs in the first inning, the Royals scored again in the second on a solo home run by Maikel Garcia, his third of the season, before the A’s took the lead for good with their four-spot in the bottom of the frame. A walk to Lawrence Butler and a single by Wilson set the stage, as Langeliers tied the game with an RBI double before Kurtz lashed his two-run double to center field. Kurtz scored the inning’s fourth run on a throwing error by Royals second baseman Nick Loftin. A’s starter Jeffrey Springs threw a scoreless third inning, retaining a 5-2 lead, before handing the ball off to the bullpen, which allowed just one run and five hits the rest of the way. Luis Medina (1-1), who threw 2 2/3 innings of shutout ball, was credited with the win. Following Scott Barlow and Brady Basso, Jack Perkins pitched a one-hit ninth for his third save. Springs gave up two runs and five hits in his three innings, during which he labored through 67 pitches. He walked one and struck out four. Royals starter Noah Cameron (2-2) took the loss, charged with five runs (four earned) on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out five. Langeliers finished with three hits — all doubles — and scored twice for the A’s, while Wilson had two hits and also scored twice. Darell Hernaiz also had three hits and drove in two runs for the hosts, who out-hit the Royals 11-10. Garcia went 3-for-5 with his homer and two doubles for Kansas City, while Elias Diaz added a solo shot in the eighth, his first of the season. Garcia scored twice and also stole a base, while Starling Marte added three singles and an RBI. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #timely #hits #stellar #bullpen #claim #series #win #Royals

#Deadspin #timely #hits #stellar #bullpen #claim #series #win #Royals">

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Apr 30, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) rounds third base on his way to score during the second inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

Nick Kurtz highlighted a four-run second inning with a two-RBI double, four relievers combined for six strong innings and the Athletics finished off a series win over the visiting Kansas City Royals with a 6-3 victory on Thursday afternoon in Sacramento.

Jacob Wilson and Shea Langeliers combined for five hits and four runs atop the lineup, helping the A’s win a second straight game over the Royals and capture their third consecutive 2-1 series win.

After the teams traded single runs in the first inning, the Royals scored again in the second on a solo home run by Maikel Garcia, his third of the season, before the A’s took the lead for good with their four-spot in the bottom of the frame.

A walk to Lawrence Butler and a single by Wilson set the stage, as Langeliers tied the game with an RBI double before Kurtz lashed his two-run double to center field.

Kurtz scored the inning’s fourth run on a throwing error by Royals second baseman Nick Loftin.

A’s starter Jeffrey Springs threw a scoreless third inning, retaining a 5-2 lead, before handing the ball off to the bullpen, which allowed just one run and five hits the rest of the way.

Luis Medina (1-1), who threw 2 2/3 innings of shutout ball, was credited with the win. Following Scott Barlow and Brady Basso, Jack Perkins pitched a one-hit ninth for his third save.

Springs gave up two runs and five hits in his three innings, during which he labored through 67 pitches. He walked one and struck out four.

Royals starter Noah Cameron (2-2) took the loss, charged with five runs (four earned) on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out five.

Langeliers finished with three hits — all doubles — and scored twice for the A’s, while Wilson had two hits and also scored twice.

Darell Hernaiz also had three hits and drove in two runs for the hosts, who out-hit the Royals 11-10.

Garcia went 3-for-5 with his homer and two doubles for Kansas City, while Elias Diaz added a solo shot in the eighth, his first of the season. Garcia scored twice and also stole a base, while Starling Marte added three singles and an RBI.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #timely #hits #stellar #bullpen #claim #series #win #Royals">Deadspin | A’s use timely hits, stellar bullpen to claim series win vs. Royals

Apr 30, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) rounds third base on his way to score during the second inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

Nick Kurtz highlighted a four-run second inning with a two-RBI double, four relievers combined for six strong innings and the Athletics finished off a series win over the visiting Kansas City Royals with a 6-3 victory on Thursday afternoon in Sacramento.

Jacob Wilson and Shea Langeliers combined for five hits and four runs atop the lineup, helping the A’s win a second straight game over the Royals and capture their third consecutive 2-1 series win.

After the teams traded single runs in the first inning, the Royals scored again in the second on a solo home run by Maikel Garcia, his third of the season, before the A’s took the lead for good with their four-spot in the bottom of the frame.

A walk to Lawrence Butler and a single by Wilson set the stage, as Langeliers tied the game with an RBI double before Kurtz lashed his two-run double to center field.

Kurtz scored the inning’s fourth run on a throwing error by Royals second baseman Nick Loftin.

A’s starter Jeffrey Springs threw a scoreless third inning, retaining a 5-2 lead, before handing the ball off to the bullpen, which allowed just one run and five hits the rest of the way.

Luis Medina (1-1), who threw 2 2/3 innings of shutout ball, was credited with the win. Following Scott Barlow and Brady Basso, Jack Perkins pitched a one-hit ninth for his third save.

Springs gave up two runs and five hits in his three innings, during which he labored through 67 pitches. He walked one and struck out four.

Royals starter Noah Cameron (2-2) took the loss, charged with five runs (four earned) on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out five.

Langeliers finished with three hits — all doubles — and scored twice for the A’s, while Wilson had two hits and also scored twice.

Darell Hernaiz also had three hits and drove in two runs for the hosts, who out-hit the Royals 11-10.

Garcia went 3-for-5 with his homer and two doubles for Kansas City, while Elias Diaz added a solo shot in the eighth, his first of the season. Garcia scored twice and also stole a base, while Starling Marte added three singles and an RBI.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #timely #hits #stellar #bullpen #claim #series #win #Royals

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