Houston, Tx— Jalen Green sank two clutch free throws with 3.5 seconds remaining, and the Houston Rockets triumphed over the Golden State Warriors 91-90 on Wednesday night to reach the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas.
The victory snapped a 15-game losing streak against Golden State, marking Houston’s first win in the series since February 20, 2020. The Rockets now look ahead to a semifinal showdown with Oklahoma City, who defeated Dallas in the other Western Conference quarterfinal on Tuesday. The two teams will meet on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Alperen Sengun was the standout for Houston, recording a double-double with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Jabari Smith Jr. contributed 15 points in the win.
Houston had built a comfortable 14-point lead earlier in the game, but Golden State mounted a late comeback that set up a dramatic finish.
With around 1:30 left in the game, the Rockets found themselves trailing by six points. Fred VanVleet then drilled a 3-pointer, and Sengun followed with a layup with 27 seconds left, bringing the Rockets within one point.
After a missed 3-pointer from Stephen Curry with 11 seconds left, Gary Payton II grabbed the rebound but was unable to control the ball. Green intercepted Payton’s pass and was fouled by Jonathan Kuminga, earning two free throws that would ultimately seal the win.
Golden State had one final chance to snatch victory at the buzzer, but Smith blocked Brandin Podziemski’s desperate 3-point attempt as time expired.
Key Takeaways
Warriors: Golden State had already beaten the Rockets twice this season without Curry in the lineup. On Wednesday, Curry scored 19 points, but his efforts weren’t enough to secure the win.
Rockets: Despite a few tense moments and losing a double-digit lead, Houston showed impressive composure down the stretch to secure the victory.
Key Moment Of The Game:
Green’s tenacious defense in the closing seconds, stealing the ball and drawing the foul, was a pivotal moment in securing the Rockets’ win.
Key Stat Of The Game:
Houston managed to win despite shooting just 6-for-27 from beyond the arc, highlighting their resilience in other areas of the game.
What’s Next
The Rockets head to Las Vegas for the semifinals, while the Warriors will return to regular-season action on Sunday with a road game against the Dallas Mavericks.
