Chalien Dantes/Contributor

Kevin Durant dropped 28 points to become just the eighth player in NBA history to reach 31,000 career points as the Houston Rockets cruised past the Phoenix Suns 117-98.

He now sits in a legendary group alongside Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James, all names that define entire eras of the league.

This matchup also served as Durant’s first appearance against Phoenix since the massive seven-team deal that moved him to Houston and sent Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to the Suns. He missed the previous meeting for personal reasons, but he made up for lost time quickly. After sinking two early free throws, Durant hit a smooth midrange jumper in the first quarter to clear the 31,000 mark. He finished the night with 31,024 career points and didn’t even need to play the fourth.

Amen Thompson powered the Rockets with a season-best 31 points as Houston picked up its fifth win in six games. After trailing by nine early, the Rockets erupted for a 44-point second quarter, with Durant pouring in 17 during the surge to flip the game.

Houston kept pressing in the third, stretching an 11-point lead into a 25-point cushion with a 16-2 burst. Thompson scored six in that run, while Durant and rookie Reed Sheppard each knocked down threes. Phoenix unravelled with five turnovers in that stretch alone.

Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 23 points as they dropped their third game in four outings.

Houston played without Alperen Sengun due to illness, giving Steven Adams the start. He chipped in four points and eight rebounds.