HOUSTON — In an intense game that came down to the final seconds, the Houston Rockets narrowly edged out the Milwaukee Bucks with a 100-97 victory on Tuesday night. Jalen Green was instrumental for the Rockets, scoring 25 points, while Alperen Sengun contributed significantly with 23 points. A significant moment in the game occurred when Amen Thompson was ejected after delivering a hard foul on Giannis Antetokounmpo.
As the game entered a crucial phase, tied at 95 points each, Sengun managed to break the deadlock by converting one of his two free throw attempts, putting Houston ahead. He followed this by securing two additional free throws with 30 seconds remaining, pushing the Rockets’ lead to 98-95.
Brook Lopez’s attempt to level the score with a 3-pointer fell short, but a turnover by Sengun handed the Bucks another chance. Antetokounmpo capitalized on this opportunity, executing a dunk that narrowed the gap to one point with just 8.1 seconds left on the clock.
Jalen Green secured the win for the Rockets by successfully making two free throws, extending their lead to 100-97. Damian Lillard, on the verge of a comeback, was fouled but fell short after missing his first free throw. A double lane violation on his second attempt prompted a jump ball, of which Lillard emerged victorious. However, his subsequent 3-point shot attempt bounced off the rim, sealing the Bucks’ fate.
A notable incident unfolded with approximately 4 1/2 minutes remaining, when Amen Thompson committed a flagrant foul on Antetokounmpo, pulling him down by the head and neck during a shot attempt, which led to Thompson’s ejection after a review.
Antetokounmpo was a standout performer for Milwaukee, tallying 27 points and collecting 10 rebounds, though the team’s performance ended their four-game winning streak.
**Takeaways**
Bucks: Consistency in offense remains a challenge for Milwaukee, particularly evident during their inability to score until Damian Lillard’s free throws with about six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Rockets: Despite a strong defensive performance, Houston missed opportunities on offense, scoring just seven points during the first six minutes of the fourth quarter at a time when Milwaukee failed to score.
**Key Moment**
Sengun’s crucial free throws late in the game that secured the lead for Houston.
**Key Stat**
Milwaukee managed to score only 12 points in the fourth quarter.
**Up Next**
The Rockets will welcome the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, while the Bucks will host the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.
