Rockets rally past Warriors, advance to NBA Cup semifinals
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Steve Kerr blasts refs, storms out of news conference (2:14)
Warriors coach Steve Kerr doesn’t hold back as he criticizes the referees for a late foul call vs. the Rockets in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. (2:14)
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ESPN News Services
Dec 12, 2024, 12:45 AM ET
HOUSTON — Jalen Green made two free throws with 3.5 seconds left and the Houston Rockets beat the Golden State Warriors 91-90 on Wednesday night to advance to the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas.
Houston snapped a 15-game skid against the Warriors, winning for the first time in the series since Feb. 20, 2020. The Rockets will face Oklahoma City, which beat Dallas in the other West quarterfinal game Tuesday night, in the semifinals on Saturday.
Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 26 points and 11 rebounds, and Jabari Smith Jr. added 15 points.
Houston led by 14 points before falling behind late to set up the thrilling finish.
Houston trailed by six with about 1 ½ minutes left before Fred VanVleet made a 3-pointer and Sengun added a layup with 27 seconds to go to cut the lead to one.
Stephen Curry missed a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left and Gary Payton II grabbed the rebound, but Green intercepted his pass and was fouled by Jonathan Kuminga to set up the winning free throws.
The Warriors had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Smith blocked Brandin Podziemski‘s 3-point attempt.
Entering Wednesday, the Warriors were 461-0 when leading by six or more points in the final 1:30 of a game under coach Steve Kerr.
Takeaways
Warriors: Golden State beat the Rockets twice this season without Curry before losing Wednesday in a game where he had 19 points.
Rockets: This young team showed poise after squandering a double-digit lead.
Key moment
Green’s hustle on getting the ball late to draw the foul, setting up the winning free throws.
Key stat
Houston won despite making just 6 of 27 3-pointers.
Up next
Houston heads to Las Vegas this weekend, and the Warriors return to regular-season play Sunday at Dallas.
Information from ESPN Research and The Associated Press was used in this report.
