HOUSTON — In a thrilling match Wednesday night, Alperen Sengun secured victory for the Houston Rockets over the Cleveland Cavaliers with two free throws, making the score 109-108 with just 4.5 seconds remaining. Despite a late-game flourish from the Cavaliers, which saw them erase a 13-point deficit, the Rockets managed to hold onto their slim lead.

Fred VanVleet was a standout for Houston, contributing 26 points as the team dug deep to overcome a fourth-quarter struggle. The turning point came when Tari Eason committed a flagrant foul on Darius Garland, who was attempting a 3-pointer, granting Garland three free throw attempts with only 2.1 seconds on the clock. Although he missed the first two shots, Garland converted the last one, bringing Cleveland within a single point. The Cavaliers nearly clinched a win at the buzzer, but Donovan Mitchell’s shot from beyond the arc fell short.

Earlier in the game, with under 10 seconds to play, Mitchell misfired on a critical attempt, giving Sengun the chance to grab the rebound. He was fouled by Jarrett Allen, leading to the pivotal free throws that secured the win for Houston.

The Rockets had been in control, leading by 13 points with roughly 11 minutes left in the final quarter. However, the Cavaliers engineered a remarkable 19-0 scoring surge to take a 104-98 lead with just around four minutes remaining. VanVleet snapped a more than seven-minute scoring drought for Houston with a crucial 3-pointer, eventually scoring another on their following possession to tie the game.

Darius Garland led the Cavaliers, who hold the best record in the NBA, with 26 points, marking only their fifth loss on the road this season.

Key takeaways from the game highlighted the Cavaliers’ struggle in the rebounding department, feeling the absence of Evan Mobley who is sidelined with a calf injury, as they were outrebounded 53-45. Meanwhile, the Rockets were reminded of the importance of avoiding extended scoring lapses if they hope to achieve continued success against top-tier teams.

A significant moment in the game was Garland’s failure to convert the first two free throws that could have catapulted the Cavaliers into the lead. Statistically, Cleveland’s missed opportunities at the free-throw line, including the two from Garland late in the game, were a defining factor in the loss.

Looking ahead, the Cavaliers will face the 76ers on Friday night before returning home to host the Rockets on Saturday, while Houston will be eager to build on this hard-fought victory.