The Houston Rockets stunned the Golden State Warriors with a nail-biting victory, emerging victorious in a tightly contested game with a score of 91-90. This victory was particularly significant for the Rockets, as it marked the end of a daunting 15-game losing streak against the formidable Warriors. The win also advanced the Rockets to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup in Las Vegas, while simultaneously eliminating the Warriors from the competition.
A Thrilling Turnaround
The Rockets' win was not just a statistical victory; it was an embodiment of determination and resilience. With less than four minutes left on the clock, the Rockets found themselves trailing by seven points. Yet, in a gripping sequence of play, they managed to score seven points while keeping the Warriors from making a single score in those crucial final three minutes.
In a pivotal moment, Jalen Green drew a foul from Jonathan Kuminga with only 3.1 seconds remaining. Referee Billy Kennedy cited contact with the neck and shoulder area, leading to Green taking two pressure-laden free throws. Deftly converting both, Green pushed the Rockets to a one-point lead. The game reached its dramatic conclusion when Jabari Smith blocked Brandin Podziemski's shot attempt, cementing the Rockets' win.
A Controversial Call
The game was not without controversy. Steve Kerr, head coach of the Warriors, was vocal in his frustration over what he perceived as a pivotal officiating error. "I've never seen a loose ball foul in a jump ball situation 80 feet from the basket with the game on the line," Kerr remarked, capturing the unusual nature of the call. "I think I saw it in college one time 30 years ago. Never seen it in the NBA. That is unconscionable."
Kerr's discontent stemmed from the dramatic shift this call induced at such a critical juncture in the game. "I feel for our guys. They deserved to win that game or at least have the chance for one stop at the end to finish the game. And that was taken from us by a call that I don't think an elementary school referee would have made," said Kerr, emphasizing the perceived injustice.
The Conflict on the Court
Describing the fiercely contested game, Kerr noted, "You've established you're not going to call anything throughout the game. It’s a physical game and you're gonna call a loose ball foul in a jump ball situation with guys diving on the floor with the game on the line?" His comments highlighted the intense physicality of the match, framing the Rockets win as a hard-earned triumph under challenging conditions.
The Warriors were indeed set on their sights for the NBA Cup in Las Vegas, a sentiment expressed poignantly by Kerr. "I’m pissed off. I wanted to go to Las Vegas. We wanted to win this Cup," he lamented, expressing the collective disappointment from an unexpected early exit.
The Road to Las Vegas
For the Rockets, the victory is a testament to their tenacity and clutch performance under pressure, as they now prepare to battle the Oklahoma City Thunder. The culmination of hard-fought plays and crucial defensive maneuvers, the game showed not only their capability to close gaps but to also seize critical opportunities when presented.
The clash against the Thunder awaits, but for now, the Rockets and their fans can savor a moment of redemption against a team that's consistently been a thorn in their side. While the Warriors are left to ponder what might have been, the Rockets move forward, emboldened by a victory rich in both drama and significance.