Los Angeles - Kevin Durant came up big at both ends when it mattered the most.

Durant erupted for 20 of his 26 points in the final quarter, including the go-ahead basket with just over a minute to play, rallying the Oklahoma City Thunder past the Houston Rockets 110-104 on Monday night, for their first preseason victory in their new state.

"It's just one of those things, we didn't have anyone who could play Durant," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "We allowed him to get going at the start of the fourth quarter."

The Thunder, formerly the Seattle SuperSonics, trailed 102-98 before Durant took charge. The league's reigning rookie of the year converted a three-point play and followed up Russell Westbrook's fast-break miss with 63 seconds remaining, to put them on top for good.

Durant's jumper opened up a 105-102 advantage, but DJ Strawberry made a pair of free throws to pull the Rockets within one. Strawberry then stole Westbrook's in-bounds and raced in for the potential go-ahead layup, but Durant swatted the ball away.

Durant's two free throws pushed the lead to 107-104, before he blocked Aaron Brooks' shot at the other end. He rebounded Brent Barry's jumper, leading to a pair of foul shots by Nick Collison to seal the victory.

Collison collected 21 points for the Thunder (1-3), Desmond Mason chipped in with 16, and Chris Wilcox finished with 13 and 15 rebounds.

Brooks led the Rockets (2-2) with 20 points off the bench. Strawberry had 16 while Chinese superstar centre Yao Ming collected 15 points along with 16 rebounds while playing the first and third quarters.

Elsewhere: Atlanta Hawks 88, Charlotte Bobcats 87 Acie Law threw down a dunk with 4.5 seconds left, lifting the Hawks over the winless Bobcats, in preseason play.

Joe Johnson led the Hawks (3-1) with 17 points, Josh Smith had 16 and Law finished with 12.

Jason Richardson had 19 points for the Bobcats, who dropped to 0-3 under new coach Larry Brown.

Memphis Grizzlies 103, Indiana Pacers 95 Rookie guard OJ Mayo, the third overall pick in the draft, scored 26 points, including six-of-eight on 3-pointers before sitting out the fourth quarter, leading the Grizzlies over the Pacers in a preseason contest.

Rudy Gay had 16 points for the Grizzlies (2-2) while Spanish rookie Marc Gasol, brother of LA Lakers forward Pau Gasol, finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

TJ Ford led short-handed Indiana (3-1) with 18 points, Jarrett Jack and Roy Hibbert added 17 apiece. The Pacers played without injured starters Danny Granger, Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy.