NBA roundup: Hawks see off Knicks, Rockets stun Warriors
The Houston Rockets narrowly defeated the Golden State Warriors 91-90, marking their first victory over the Warriors since 2020 and securing a place in the semi-finals of the NBA Cup on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks progressed after overcoming the New York Knicks in a comeback victory.
Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with an impressive performance, scoring 26 points and collecting 11 rebounds. His teammate Jalen Green contributed 12 points, including the decisive free throws with just 3.5 seconds left, allowing Houston to break a streak of 15 consecutive losses to the Warriors dating back to February 2020.
The Rockets will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup semi-finals in Las Vegas on Saturday, while the Hawks will compete against the Milwaukee Bucks after Trae Young, who scored 22 points and provided 11 assists, helped his team rally from a 10-point deficit in the third quarter to secure a 108-100 victory over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
The final of this second edition of the in-season tournament is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
"I have never witnessed my team display such eagerness," Sengun remarked regarding the Rockets' commitment to reaching Las Vegas. "We prepared intensely for this game."
The Rockets pressured Stephen Curry and the Warriors into committing 14 turnovers in the first half, establishing a lead of as much as 14 points and finishing the half ahead 44-37.
However, the Warriors made adjustments, and with Draymond Green leading a robust defensive effort, they seemed to gain control when Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga hit consecutive three-pointers, extending their lead to 89-82 with 3:38 remaining.
Golden State held a 90-84 advantage with 1:16 left when Houston's Fred VanVleet sank a three-pointer, igniting a 7-0 scoring run that ultimately secured the victory.
Kuminga was the leading scorer for the Warriors with 20 points, while Curry added 19 but missed a crucial three-pointer with 11.1 seconds on the clock.
With the Warriors ahead by one point and only 3.5 seconds remaining, Rockets guard Green dove for a loose ball, resulting in a foul call on Kuminga that sent Green to the free-throw line for the game-winning shots. Warriors coach Steve Kerr expressed his frustration over the officiating decision.
He remarked, "I have never witnessed a loose-ball foul called during a jump-ball situation 80 feet from the basket with the game hanging in the balance. That is utterly unacceptable... grant them a timeout and allow the players to determine the outcome of the game."
Young's Resurgence
In New York, the Knicks controlled the first half; however, Young ignited in the second half, energizing the Hawks' offense.
He contributed 12 points and distributed nine assists after halftime, orchestrating a well-rounded Hawks offense that featured 24 points from bench player De'Andre Hunter.
Young assisted Hunter with an alley-oop dunk, extending the Hawks' lead to 14 points with 3:01 left in the game.
Clint Capela executed an alley-oop from Dyson Daniels and followed it up with another basket moments later from a pass by Young, effectively sealing the victory for the Hawks.
"This is a significant game, particularly for us," stated Young, who has become a target of disdain for Knicks fans since Atlanta's triumph over New York in the 2021 playoff series.
"We strive to support one another and play until the final whistle, and that is precisely what we accomplished."
Josh Hart led the Knicks with 21 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 19 points and 19 rebounds before fouling out in the closing minutes. Mikal Bridges also added 19 points for New York, who struggled to keep pace as Atlanta accelerated their play in the second half.
SportsLigue