HOUSTON — Jalen Green’s impressive 25-point performance, alongside Alperen Sengun’s 23 points, propelled the Houston Rockets to a narrow 100-97 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. The game took a dramatic turn when Houston’s Amen Thompson was ejected following a hard foul on Milwaukee’s star, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The contest was evenly poised at 95 before Sengun broke the deadlock, converting one of his two free throws to nudge Houston ahead. With just 30 seconds on the clock, he further cemented their lead by sinking two more free throws, pushing the score to 98-95. Minutes later, Brook Lopez’s attempt at a 3-pointer fell short, followed by a turnover from Sengun, which returned possession to the Bucks. Giannis capitalized with a dunk, cutting Houston’s lead to a slender 98-97 with only 8.1 seconds on the clock.
Jalen Green responded by adding two crucial free throws for Houston, extending their advantage to 100-97. As the game reached its climax, a foul on Damian Lillard complicated matters—Lillard missed the first free throw and a double lane violation was called on the second, leading to a jump ball. Lillard managed to claim the jump ball, but his shot from beyond the arc glanced off the rim, sealing the win for Houston.
Earlier in the game, the Bucks found themselves trailing by just two points when Thompson committed a controversial foul. He pulled Antetokounmpo down flagrantly by his neck and head while the latter attempted a shot in the paint. The referees reviewed the incident, deemed it a flagrant foul 2, resulting in Thompson’s ejection.
Despite the setback, Giannis delivered a stellar performance, scoring 27 points and grabbing 10 rebounds for the Bucks. Unfortunately for Milwaukee, this defeat ended a streak of four consecutive victories.
**Key Takeaways:**
– **Bucks:** Milwaukee needs to address their offensive struggles, particularly after managing to score only from free throws during a stretch midway through the final quarter.
– **Rockets:** While Houston showcased formidable defense, they must improve on offensive opportunities, particularly during spells when they effectively stifled Milwaukee’s scoring efforts.
**Key Moment:**
Sengun’s pivotal free throws late in the game ensured the Rockets held the lead that eventually secured their victory.
**Key Stat:**
An underwhelming fourth quarter for Milwaukee saw them post only 12 points.
**Up Next:**
The Rockets are set to host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, while the Bucks will face off against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.
