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Houston Rockets edge Golden State Warriors in thriller, advance to NBA Cup final-4 in Vegas

Written by Paul Kemp
Paul Kemp
Paul Kemp is an experienced sports writer covering Soccer, NBA and NHL. He also writes in depth reviews of sports betting sites based on his personal experience.
, | Updated: December 12, 2024
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Houston's Jabari Smith Jr. shoots in the NBA Cup game against the Warriors

    Key Takeaways:

  • The Houston Rockets advanced to the NBA Cup semifinals with a 91-90 win over the Golden State Warriors, ending a 15-game losing streak against the Warriors
  • Jalen Green sank two free throws with 3.5 seconds left to secure the Rockets’ victory, after being fouled by Jonathan Kuminga
  • Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Jabari Smith Jr. contributed 15 points
  • The Rockets will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the semifinals on Saturday, after the Thunder defeated the Dallas Mavericks in another Western Conference quarterfinal
  • The Warriors’ Stephen Curry scored 19 points, but it was not enough to overcome the Rockets’ strong performance, particularly in the game’s dramatic finale

The Houston Rockets pulled off a thrilling 91-90 victory over the Golden State Warriors to advance to the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas. The win marked a significant milestone for the Rockets, as it ended a 15-game losing streak against the Warriors, with their last win in the series dating back to February 20, 2020. Alperen Sengun led Houston with 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Jabari Smith Jr. contributed 15 points to help the Rockets secure the win.

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with the Rockets leading by as many as 14 points before the Warriors staged a late comeback. However, the Rockets showed resilience and determination, with Fred VanVleet hitting a crucial three-pointer and Sengun scoring with 27 seconds left to cut the deficit to one point. The Warriors’ Stephen Curry missed a three-pointer with 11 seconds left, and the Rockets capitalized on the opportunity, with Jalen Green being fouled by Jonathan Kuminga and sinking two decisive free throws with 3.5 seconds left.

The Warriors had one final chance to win, but Jabari Smith Jr. came up with a clutch block on Brandin Podziemski’s three-point attempt, sealing the Rockets’ victory and sending them to the semifinals. The Rockets will now face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday, after the Thunder defeated the Dallas Mavericks in another Western Conference quarterfinal.

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 Author: Paul Kemp

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