poneclub NBA: Rockets make clutch plays, hold off Cavaliers

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) makes a penalty shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Houston, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Alperen Sengun sank two free throws with 4.5 seconds left and the Houston Rockets survived a seven-minute scoring drought in the fourth quarter to outlast the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers 109-108 in the NBA on Wednesday.

Sengun rebounded a Donovan Mitchell miss and absorbed a foul from Jarrett Allen before snapping a tie at the foul line.

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The Cavaliers appeared to secure the upper hand when Darius Garland was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 2.8 seconds left. Tari Eason was charged with a flagrant foul on the play after his reckless closeout resulted in Garland crumpling to the floor on his attempt.

However, Garland missed the first two free throws, and Mitchell missed another 3-point attempt at the buzzer.

Cleveland dropped to 3-3 over its past six games despite erasing an 11-point deficit entering the final period with a 19-0 run that included a Garland layup resulting in a 99-98 Cleveland lead.

Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) celebrates after making a 3-pointer during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Houston, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Fred VanVleet stalled the Cavaliers’ rally with consecutive 3-pointers to knot the score at 104-104 with 2:51 left.

VanVleet led Houston with 26 points, while Sengun (18 points, 11 rebounds) and Amen Thompson (16 points, 16 rebounds) chipped in double-doubles. Eason (12 points, six rebounds, three steals) and Cam Whitmore (16 points) excelled off the Houston bench.

Garland paced Cleveland with 26 points while Mitchell added 19 on 7-of-21 shooting. Allen posted 17 points and 13 boards while Ty Jerome tallied 18 points off the Cleveland bench.

Houston responded to an early salvo from the Cavaliers with 3-point proficiency, starting with consecutive treys from VanVleet and Eason that shaved a nine-point deficit to 23-20. When Whitmore followed an Eason steal with a transition dunk, the Rockets pulled even at 27-27.

Eason and Whitmore combined for 16 points on 4-of-6 3-point shooting in the opening period, propelling the Rockets to a 39-32 lead entering the second despite the Cavaliers shooting 54.5 percent in the first.

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When Cleveland opened the second with a 10-2 burst keyed by 3-pointers from Sam Merrill and Georges Niang for a 42-41 lead, the Rockets punched back with a 13-0 run fueled by a Whitmore one-handed alley-oop dunk and a three-point play by Eason.

The Cavaliers missed eight consecutive shots and committed five turnovers during the Rockets’ rally. Cleveland shot just 7 of 25 from the field in the second period and trailed 61-53 at the intermission. –Field Level Mediaponeclub