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Rockets great comeback falls short in 127-121 OT loss to the Warriors
POSTED: November 2, 2024 -- 11:59 p.m. CT
HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets trailed the Golden State Warriors by as much as 31 points in the first half; forced overtime with a furious second-half rally; but, lost 127-121 in overtime. That would have been the largest comeback in franchise history and the fourth-largest by any team going back to 1997-98 according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
"We subbed some guys out and brought some guys in that brought energy," Ime Udoka, Rockets Head Coach said during his postgame press conference. "Played with a different pace. I do feel - even the start of the third (quarter) we, at least defensively, started to pick up full court and be the aggressor."
Golden State (5-1) lit up the Rockets (3-3) in the first quarter making 14 of 22 shot attempts including 8 for 12 three-pointers. Houston trailed 38-20 at the end of the first quarter.
The Warriors continued the onslaught in the second quarter draining 4 of 8 three-points and 10 of 18 field goal attempts overall. Golden State guard Buddy Hield scored 14 first-half points on perfect shooting. Hield was 4-for-4 from three and 1-for-1 from two. Teammate Jonathan Kuminga also scored 14 points. Kuminga was 4 for 7 from the floor and 4 for 6 from the free throw line.
Houston trailed 71-40 with one minute remaining in the opening half before trailing 71-43 at halftime. The Warriors' reserves -- led by Hield and Kuminga -- combined to score 42 points.
Rockets' starting center Alperen Sengun walked to the locker room with 2 plus minutes remaining in the first half. Sengun was unavailable for comment after the game; however, Coach Udoka said he didn't notice Sengun had left for the locker room before the half ended.
Sengun played 8 minutes and 38 seconds in the first half -- the fewest among the Rockets' starters; but, he did lead the starters in scoring with 7 first-half points.
Sengun started the third quarter and, like his teammates, was much more aggressive in the third quarter. Sengun played the entire third quarter and scored 7 points and added 6 rebounds in the period.
The Rockets outscored the Warriors 37-25 in the third quarter. Rockets' forward Tari Eason played a huge role in the third period. Eason scored 12 points (5 for 6 fgs - 2 for 3 threes) in less than six minutes of action in the third. He added 2 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot in the quarter.
Eason, Jabari Smith Jr, and Amen Thompson excelled in the fourth quarter with energy, hustle, and effort. The trio combined for 34 of the Rockets' 39 points in the fourth period. Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard made a three-pointer to start the 4th; Smith followed with a three-point basket; then Thompson scored 5 in a row.
Houston scored the first 11 points in the fourth quarter which forced Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr to call timeout. After the timeout, Eason picked up a steal and scored a layup to cut Houston's deficit to just 3 (96-93) with 8:53 on the clock. Nearly 90 seconds later, Eason tied the game at 98 with a tip-in.
Warriors forward Draymond Green hit a three-pointer to break the tie; but, Eason scored 4 straight points to put the Rockets on top, 102-101, for Houston's first lead of the ball game -- with 5:54 remaining in the 4th.
Hield answered with a three-point basket. The game was tied two more times before the Warriors stretched the lead to 118-112 with 51.5 seconds remaining. After a Houston timeout, Fred VanVleet was fouled and made 2 free throws to cut the Warriors' lead to 118-114.
Dillon Brooks fouled Draymond Green with 33.4 seconds on the clock. Green missed both foul shots; however, Green rebounded the second miss and passed the ball to teammate Brandon Podziemski. Brooks fouled Podziemski with 28.4 seconds on the clock. Podziemski split the 2 free throws. Jabari Smith Jr. swished a three-pointer with 19.1 seconds remaining.
Podziemski received the inbounds pass and was trapped in the backcourt. He called timeout 15.5 seconds left in the 4th. After the timeout, Draymond Green threw an errant pass from the backcourt into the frontcourt which Rockets' guard Aaron Holiday stole. Trailing by 2 with seconds remaining in the fourth, Eason got the ball and was fouled. Eason made both free throws to tie the game with 8.3 seconds on the clock.
The Warriors failed to get off a shot which sent the game into overtime. Kuminga scored the first 4 points of OT. Houston's offense went cold. The Rockets made just 1 of 12 shots in the extra session as the Warriors pulled away for the victory.
After the game, Kerr said, "I was so proud of the guys for the way the responded to what was an onslaught from Houston that second half and especially fourth quarter."
Coach Udoka said, "I think the second unit, the third unit that came in really obviously brought us back in the game."
Eason had a career-high 27 points along with 9 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocks while shooting 3-of-5 from 3-point range. It is the 11th time in NBA history that a player recorded at least 27 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 blocks and 3 3FGM in a single game and the third time by a Rocket (both by James Harden in 2018-19).
"I think it was encouraging to see some of the younger guys step up, the bench group step up. We just got to put it together for a full 48 minutes."
NOTES:
Smith had a season-high 21 points while shooting 5-of-13 from 3-point range. The Rockets were 9-5 when he scored 20+ points last season. Smith shot 6-of-21 from behind-the-arc over the first five games of the season.
Amen Thompson had 18 points and a game-high tying 11 rebounds off the bench. It is his first double-double of the season after recording 13 as a rookie in 2023-24.
Buddy Hield had a game-high tying 27 points off the bench while shooting 6-of-10 from 3-point range. He has scored 25+ points in three of the six games this season. Hield scored 25+ points twice in 84 combined games played for Indiana and Philadelphia in 2023-24.
NEXT:
The Rockets' next game is Monday, November 4, at home, against the New York Knicks. Tip is set for 7 p.m. Central Time.
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