Jalen Green’s clutch free throws with 3.5 seconds left sealed a dramatic 91-90 victory for the Houston Rockets over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, propelling them into the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas. The win snapped Houston’s 15-game losing streak against Golden State, marking their first triumph in the matchup since February 20, 2020. The Rockets will now face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday for a spot in the final.
With just under two minutes remaining, Houston trailed by six points before Fred VanVleet connected on a critical 3-pointer. Alperen Sengun followed with a clutch layup to bring the Rockets within one point with 27 seconds left. Stephen Curry, who finished with 19 points for Golden State, missed a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession. Gary Payton II secured the rebound but his attempt to pass out of traffic was intercepted by Green, who was fouled by Jonathan Kuminga. Green calmly sank both free throws to give Houston the lead.
Golden State had one last chance to win, but Jabari Smith Jr. came through with a game-saving block on Brandin Podziemski’s 3-point attempt as the buzzer sounded. The Warriors will be left to reflect on a missed opportunity, as they failed to capitalize on a tightly contested game despite Curry’s return to the lineup and let’s grade the players tonight.Â
Jonathan Kuminga: B
Stats: 20 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 8-20 FG, 2-6 3PT FG, 2-6 FT, +2 +/-, 36 mins
Kuminga led the Warriors in scoring with 20 points on 8-of-20 shooting, adding seven rebounds and a block in 36 minutes. While he showed flashes of aggression and versatility, his struggles from the free-throw line (2-of-6) and limited playmaking impact held him back from a higher grade.
Stephen Curry: B-
Stats: 19 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 0 fouls, 8-17 FG, 3-9 3PT FG, 0-1 FT, +4 +/-, 34 mins
In his return to the lineup, Stephen Curry contributed 19 points, three rebounds, and five assists on 8-of-17 shooting. Despite hitting some key shots, his 3-of-9 effort from deep and failure to deliver in crunch time kept him from making a decisive impact.
Buddy Hield: B-
Stats: 15 points, 4 rebounds, 0 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 6-12 FG, 3-9 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, +9 +/-, 35 mins
Buddy Hield provided a solid scoring punch with 15 points, including three 3-pointers, along with four rebounds and two steals. However, his inconsistency from beyond the arc (3-of-9) and lack of playmaking limited his overall effectiveness.
Gary Payton II: B-
Stats: 4 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 0 blocks, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 2-4 FG, 0-2 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, -14 +/-, 18 mins
Gary Payton’s defense was a highlight, with seven rebounds and two steals in 18 minutes, but his -14 +/- and lack of scoring impact (four points) left the Warriors searching for more production from his role.
Draymond Green: C+
Stats: 8 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 5 turnovers, 4 fouls, 4-9 FG, 0-2 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, -2 +/-, 30 mins
Draymond Green filled the stat sheet with eight points, four assists, and two steals, but his five turnovers and four fouls were costly in a tightly contested game. His usual defensive intensity was present, but his offensive limitations were glaring.
Brandin Podziemski: C+
Stats: 8 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 0 blocks, 1 turnover, 0 fouls, 3-9 FG, 2-5 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, +4 +/-, 31 mins
Brandin Podziemski chipped in eight points and four assists, showing flashes of promise with his 2-of-5 shooting from deep. However, his inefficiency from the field (3-of-9) and inability to convert late hurt his grade.
Lindy Waters III: C+
Stats: 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 3 turnovers, 0 fouls, 3-6 FG, 2-4 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, -3 +/-, 23 mins
Lindy Waters III added eight points and five rebounds on 3-of-6 shooting, including two 3-pointers. While his contributions were steady, his three turnovers in just 23 minutes were a concern.
Kevon Looney: C
Stats:Â 2 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, 1 foul, 1-3 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, -4 +/-, 11 mins
Kevon Looney grabbed seven rebounds in limited action but scored just two points on 1-of-3 shooting. His typical defensive presence and impact on the boards were overshadowed by his limited minutes and effectiveness.
Trayce Jackson-Davis: C
Stats:Â 4 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 0 steals, 2 blocks, 0 turnovers, 0 fouls, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 2-2 FT, +3 +/-, 15 mins
Jackson-Davis made the most of his 15 minutes with four points, a rebound, and two blocks on perfect shooting from the field and free-throw line. His grade reflects his limited playing time rather than his performance.
Kyle Anderson: N/A
Stats:Â 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 1 turnover, 0 fouls, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, -5 +/-, 4 mins
Kyle Anderson had a forgettable outing, failing to record a point, rebound, or assist in four minutes of action. His brief time on the court did not allow him to make a significant impact.
Pat Spencer: N/A
Stats: 2 points, 0 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 0 blocks, 0 turnovers, 0 fouls, 1-2 FG, 0-1 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, +1 +/-, 3 mins
Pat Spencer played just three minutes but managed two points and two assists. His brief stint was productive, but the limited sample size precludes a full evaluation.
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