The Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors get a chance to do some hands-on scouting in preparation for their rematch in next week’s NBA Cup quarterfinals when they go head-to-head in San Francisco on Thursday night.
The Rockets and Warriors both were unbeaten in their NBA Cup groups before suffering losses on the final night of pool play Tuesday. Houston fell 120-111 at Sacramento, and Golden State lost 119-115 at Denver, each with a chance to become the West’s top seed in the quarterfinals with a win.
The results, coupled with Oklahoma City’s 133-106 win over the Utah Jazz, gave the Thunder the top seed in the West, followed by the Rockets, Warriors and Dallas Mavericks, who grabbed the West’s wild-card berth.
The Rockets and Warriors are scheduled to play in the quarterfinals on Dec. 11, with Houston earning the home court by virtue of a points-differential tiebreaker.
The clubs have already squared off in Texas this season, with Golden State prevailing 127-121 in overtime despite blowing a 31-point lead while playing without Stephen Curry.
The Warriors didn’t have Draymond Green in Tuesday’s loss to the Nuggets as he rested a sore left calf. He is expected to return — but possibly not for both games — when the Warriors host the Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves in a back-to-back that concludes Friday.
Golden State also squandered a late lead at Denver, watching the Nuggets overcome a seven-point deficit in the final 2:30. Warriors coach Steve Kerr took time after the game to scold his club about the continuing theme of poor decision-making in clutch situations.
“This league is unforgiving,” Kerr said. “If you think you’re going to get on a highlight reel, show everybody what a special play you can make, it’s going to be a turnover. We’ve got to hit singles. We’ve got to make simple decisions. And when we do that, we’re really good.”
Buddy Hield had 27 points and Jonathan Kuminga added 23 in the earlier win over Houston, which was Golden State’s 14th straight over the Rockets dating back to February 2020. Several Warriors, including fourth-year veterans Kuminga and Moses Moody, have never lost to the Rockets.
While the Warriors will take the floor Thursday saddled with a five-game losing streak, the Rockets will have won three of their past four, including victories over Minnesota, Philadelphia and Oklahoma City before the loss at Sacramento.
Two days after getting scorched by Nikola Jokic for 38 points and 10 rebounds, the Warriors will have to deal with another of the West’s top big men, Alperen Sengun, the reigning conference Player of the Week.
Sengun had 24 points and eight rebounds against the Kings after contributing an average of 21.3 points and 12.7 rebounds to Houston’s three wins last week.
Sengun was ejected late in Tuesday’s contest after drawing two technical fouls. Rockets coach Ime Udoka, who also got the heave-ho, was not happy afterward.
“Blatant missed calls,” he said. “They called ticky-tack moving screens, then you don’t want to call the obvious ones right there in front of you. Alpy got fouled a few times on drives, a layup. Told them to get some glasses and open your eyes.”
–Field Level Media
