Kevin Durant's Historic Scoring Chase: Can He Pass Dirk Nowitzki on the NBA's All-Time List?
The Houston Rockets host the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night, and all eyes are on Kevin Durant. With 31,544 regular-season points under his belt, Durant is just 17 points away from surpassing Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki and securing the No. 6 spot on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
This isn't Durant's first brush with history. During his first season in Houston, he already surpassed another all-time great in scoring, moving into seventh place by passing Wilt Chamberlain in a road loss against the Portland Trail Blazers.
But Durant's scoring prowess isn't limited to his individual achievements. He's been on a tear this month, averaging a staggering 28.7 points per game on 50% shooting from the field through nine appearances. In those nine games, he's consistently surpassed the 17-point mark, making it highly likely he'll reach his milestone on Sunday.
The Rockets, however, haven't had the best month as a team. They've struggled with a 4-5 record so far in 2026, including a 1-4 stretch where they lost to teams below .500. Despite this, they hold the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference with a 24-15 record.
The Pelicans, on the other hand, have been a different story. With the worst record in the NBA at 10-34 and just two wins in their last 14 games, they've struggled defensively, allowing over 122 points per game (28th in the NBA) and nearly 15 three-pointers per contest (29th).
Despite the Pelicans' struggles, the game promises to be an exciting one. With Durant's high-scoring potential and the Pelicans' defensive weaknesses, fans can expect a thrilling showdown at the Toyota Center. The game tips off at 6 p.m., with forward Tari Eason listed as a game-time decision due to an ankle injury.
Will Durant secure his spot on the all-time scoring list? Will the Rockets continue their winning streak? The answers may lie on the court on Sunday night.
