The last two quarterfinal games of the NBA in-season tournament have concluded, providing clarity for the semifinal matchups in Las Vegas next week.
The Atlanta Hawks will take on the Milwaukee Bucks after three-time All-Star Trae Young continued to haunt New York Knicks fans, scoring 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to advance to the semifinals of the NBA Cup. Young and the Hawks famously eliminated the Knicks from the playoffs in 2021, and the reception he receives at Madison Square Garden fuels him every time. The wing duo of Jalen Johnson and De’Andre Hunter combined for 45 points, and the Hawks’ explosive offense overwhelmed the Knicks.
Trae Young rolled the dice on the Knicks logo 👀
Next stop: Las Vegas 💰 pic.twitter.com/M707Rgvl0W
— ESPN (@espn) December 12, 2024
This marks the Knicks’ second loss to the Hawks this season. A pivotal 11-0 run in the third quarter gave Atlanta a 73-66 lead—their first of the night—and they never looked back, outscoring the Knicks 61-46 in the second half. Josh Hart led the Knicks with 21 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 19 points and 19 rebounds. The Hawks will face the Orlando Magic on Sunday in Las Vegas.
The Houston Rockets finally broke their losing streak against the Golden State Warriors, securing their first win over Golden State since February 2020 to advance in the NBA Cup. Alperen Şengün led the Rockets with 26 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
The game ended with controversy when Jalen Green dove for a loose ball with under ten seconds remaining. As Green called for a timeout, the officials instead called a foul on the loose ball, shocking Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr. Green sank both free throws, sealing the Rockets’ victory.
“What next-level instinct from Jalen Green to jump on this loose ball here,” a Rockets fan posted on social media. “Genuine game-defining effort, reflecting not only Jalen’s, but the ENTIRE team’s effort last night.”
Kerr expressed disbelief at the call during the postgame press conference.
“I am stunned. I give the Rockets credit—they battled back and played great defense all night,” Kerr said. “But I feel for our guys. Our guys battled back and played their a**es off.”
What next level instinct from Jalen Green to jump on this loose ball here. Genuine game defining effort, reflects not only Jalen’s, but the ENTIRE team’s effort last night.
A lot of people would be afraid to the dirty work like that. Not Jalen Green.
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) December 12, 2024
Kerr said after the game that he could not believe the call was made.
“I am stunned, I give the Rockets credit they battled back and they played great defense all night,” Kerr told the media after the game. “But I feel for our guys, our guys battled back and played their a&^* off.”
The Rockets will face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday in Las Vegas. Houston won their October matchup, while Oklahoma City claimed victory in the November 8th meeting. Saturday’s neutral-site showdown could foreshadow the battle for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Big man Chet Holmgren will be absent for the Thunder, with backup center Isaiah Hartenstein filling in again.
This matchup is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated games of the tournament
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