HOUSTON DRINK TO THEIR 'BIG-TIME WIN'

Rockets book NBA Cup semi-final against Thunder after squeaking past Warriors

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HOUSTON - The Houston Rockets were "thirsty" in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Cup on Dec 11.

And that desire drove them to edge out Golden State 91-90 at home for their first win over the Warriors since 2020 and reach the semi-finals of the Cup, as the Atlanta Hawks advanced with a come-from-behind victory over the New York Knicks.

Alperen Sengun scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Rockets and teammate Jalen Green's 12 points included the game-winning free throws with 3.5 seconds remaining, as Houston ended a run of 15 straight losses to the Warriors stretching back to February 2020.

Houston booked an NBA Cup last-four showdown against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas on Dec 14, when the Hawks face the Milwaukee Bucks.

Atlanta, fueled by 22 points and 11 assists from New York nemesis Trae Young, rallied from a 12-point deficit to beat the Knicks 108-100 at Madison Square Garden.

The final of the second edition of the in-season tournament will be in Las Vegas on Dec 17.