Rockets rout Suns 148-109 as Phoenix star Durant leaves with ankle injury

PHOENIX (AP) — Jalen Green scored 33 points for Houston, and Phoenix star Kevin Durant left with an ankle injury in the Rockets' 148-109 romp over the Suns on Sunday night.

Durant fell to the floor with 6:57 left in the third quarter after he stepped on Rockets Jabari Smith Jr.‘s foot. Durant got to his feet, but could not put weight on his left leg. Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said Durant will have an MRI on Monday and will not accompany the team to Milwaukee for a game Tuesday night.

Durant finished with 11 points in 23 minutes, but the Rockets were already well ahead, having taken a 78-49 lead at halftime. Houston (49-26) has won 12 of its last 13 and is second in the Western Conference standings, two games ahead of Denver.

Alperen Sengun had 16 points and nine rebounds and rookie Amen Thompson had 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for the Rockets. Neither played in the fourth quarter as Houston led by 42 points.

Devin Booker scored 28 points for the Suns, who fell two games behind Dallas for the final play-in spot in the West with six games remaining. It was Phoenix’s third loss in a row.

Rockets forward Dillon Brooks was ejected i n the second quarter after a brief shoving match with Durant. He was assessed two technical fouls while Durant and Nick Richards each received one.

Rockets: The Rockets are 12-4 in March with a game remaining.

Suns: Own the tiebreaker against the Mavericks based on winning the season series from Dallas. But with or without Durant, five of their last six games are against playoff teams.

After Brooks’ ejection, Houston outscored Phoenix 23-11 the rest of the half to lead by 29 at the break.

Phoenix committed 19 turnovers leading to 34 Houston points.

The Rockets are at the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night. The Suns are at Milwaukee on Tuesday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, right, limps off the court due to an injury as Suns center Nick Richards, back left, looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, center, sprains an ankle as the drives to the basket against Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) and Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns guard Tyus Jones, right, is fouled by Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer, center, talks with Suns center Nick Richards (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka argues with officials during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns guard Tyus Jones, right, is fouled by Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka argues with officials during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) gets hit in the face by Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) is stopped from getting to the basket by Houston Rockets center Steven Adams, left, Rockets guard Jalen Green, second from left, and Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) drives past Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn (0) as Suns guard Collin Gillespie looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns guard Tyus Jones, right, is fouled by Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Kristian Campbell agreed to a $60 million, eight-year contract with the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, less than a week after his major league debut.

Campbell agreed to the deal with just six days of major league service time. Boston struck a big-money deal with a rookie for the second straight year following a $50 million, eight-year contract last April with outfielder/infielder Ceddanne Rafaela, who started 2024 with 35 days of service.

“I know we have a really good team and a really good system," Campbell said. “It's a winning culture, a winning organization. ... Winning people, in the city of Boston. That made the decision fairly easy.”

Campbell gets a $2 million signing bonus, half payable within 60 days of the contract’s approval by Major League Baseball and half next Jan. 15. He receives salaries of $1 million this year, $2 million in 2026, $3 million in 2027, $4 million in 2028, $6 million in 2029, $9 million in 2030, $13 million in 2031 and $16 million in 2032. The deal includes a $19 million team option for 2033 with a $4 million buyout and a $21 million team option for 2034 with no buyout.

Salaries for 2031-34 can escalate based on accomplishment in the immediately preceding season: $200,000 for making the All-Star team, $2 million for winning an MVP award, $1 million for finishing second or third in the voting, $500,000 for fourth or fifth, and $250,000 for sixth through 10th.

A 22-year-old infielder and outfielder, Campbell made his big league debut March 27 as Boston's youngest opening day starter at second since Reggie Smith. He entered Wednesday hitting .375 (6 for 16) with two doubles, one homer, two RBIs and four walks.

“They developed me from day one, as soon as I got drafted. They've been working with me every day,” Campbell said. “I've learned something new every day. They've helped me become the player I am today. So it means a lot to me that I'm with the Red Sox for a long time.”

Campbell's new deal supersedes a one-year contract paying the $760,000 minimum while in the major leagues.

“I've just got to worry about baseball now. Everything that's happened is life-changing for sure," he said. “I'm looking forward to just playing baseball now, winning games.”

Campbell's contract comes the same week the Red Sox agreed to a $170 million, six-year contract with ace left-hander Garrett Crochet, whom Boston acquired in an offseason trade from the Chicago White Sox.

“We're building something really good,” Campbell said. “We have a lot of great players. ... Going in the right direction for sure.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Boston Red Sox's Kristian Campbell gestures as he stands on second base after he doubled during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Boston Red Sox's Kristian Campbell, left, runs the bases past third base coach Kyle Hudson (84) after his home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Boston Red Sox's Kristian Campbell slides into third, reaching on a Wilyer Abreu single in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, March 28, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)