HOUSTON — In a thrilling matchup on Wednesday night, Jalen Green sealed the game for the Houston Rockets by sinking two free throws with just 3.5 seconds on the clock, leading the Rockets to a narrow 91-90 victory over the Golden State Warriors. This win marks a significant turnaround for Houston, as they ended a 15-game losing streak against Golden State, with their last win dating back to February 20, 2020. The victory propels the Rockets into the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas, where they will face off against Oklahoma City, who triumphed over Dallas in the other Western Conference quarterfinal.
Alperen Sengun was a standout for the Rockets, scoring 26 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, while Jabari Smith Jr. contributed 15 points to the win. Although Houston had established a comfortable 14-point lead earlier in the game, they found themselves trailing late in the contest, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
With just over a minute and a half remaining in the game, Houston found themselves down by six points. However, Fred VanVleet ignited a comeback with a crucial three-pointer, followed by a layup from Sengun that brought them within one point just 27 seconds before the final buzzer. In the closing moments, Stephen Curry attempted a three-pointer that missed, allowing Gary Payton II to secure the rebound. However, Jalen Green, displaying impressive awareness, intercepted the ensuing pass and drew a foul from Jonathan Kuminga, which led to his decisive free throws.
While the Warriors had their chance to reclaim the lead at the last moment, Smith’s timely block of Brandin Podziemski’s three-point attempt ensured the Rockets’ victory.
Observations from the game highlighted some key points for both teams. For the Warriors, despite having defeated the Rockets earlier in the season twice without Curry, they could not clinch this victory, with Curry contributing 19 points in the loss. On the other hand, the Rockets, featuring a young roster, demonstrated remarkable composure, especially in the final moments, even after losing a double-digit lead.
A pivotal moment in the game was Green’s relentless effort to intercept the ball and earn the foul that set up his winning free throws. Notably, Houston managed to secure the victory despite a dismal shooting performance from beyond the arc, making only 6 of their 27 attempts from three-point range.
Looking ahead, the Rockets will head to Las Vegas for their semifinal matchup this weekend, while the Warriors will shift their focus back to regular-season play, facing Dallas on Sunday.
