Houston Rockets Edge Cavaliers in Nail-Biting 109-108 Victory
The Houston Rockets secured a thrilling 109-108 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night, thanks to two clutch free throws by Alperen Sengun with just 4.5 seconds left on the clock. Cleveland’s Darius Garland had a chance to steal the victory but missed two of three free throws following a flagrant foul by Tari Eason with 2.1 seconds remaining.
Fred VanVleet led the Rockets with 26 points as the team staged a late-game comeback after squandering a 13-point fourth-quarter lead. Despite a massive 19-0 run by the Cavaliers to take a 104-98 lead with about four minutes remaining, VanVleet answered with back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game at 104-104 and keep Houston in the fight.
Donovan Mitchell had a chance to win it for Cleveland at the buzzer but missed a contested 3-point shot. Mitchell also missed a critical shot in the final seconds, allowing Sengun to grab the rebound and draw a foul from Jarrett Allen, which set up the game-winning free throws.
Key Moments and Takeaways
- Decisive Misses: Garland’s missed free throws in the final seconds proved costly for Cleveland. The Cavaliers also struggled at the line overall, missing six free throws, including Garland’s critical pair.
- Rockets’ Scoring Drought: Houston endured a scoring drought of over seven minutes in the fourth quarter, something they must address to compete with stronger teams.
- Rebounding Struggles for Cleveland: The Cavaliers missed the presence of Evan Mobley, who averages 8.8 rebounds per game but was sidelined for the third straight game with a calf injury. Houston outrebounded Cleveland 53-45.
Key Stats
- Free Throws Missed: The Cavaliers missed six free throws, including two crucial ones by Garland late.
- VanVleet’s Leadership: Fred VanVleet notched 26 points and hit clutch shots to help Houston regain momentum.
What’s Next
The Cavaliers will visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night before hosting the Rockets on Saturday. Houston will look to build on this win as they prepare for a rematch in Cleveland.
