NBA Cup Semifinals Set After Quarterfinal Upsets
The Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets earned their spots in the semifinals of the NBA Cup after winning their respective quarterfinal games on Wednesday.
The Hawks knocked out the New York Knicks 108-100 at Madison Square Garden, led by a strong performance from guard Trae Young, who had 22 points, 11 assists, and five rebounds. Young scored eight straight points in the third quarter, including two threes, to give his team the lead for good.
The Hawks were also boosted by a strong showing from De’Andre Hunter, who scored a game-high 24 points off the bench, and Jalen Johnson, who contributed 21 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists.
In the second quarterfinal, the Houston Rockets stunned the Golden State Warriors 91-90 in a wild finish at the Toyota Center. Rockets center Alperen Sengun led the team with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.
The win was not without controversy, as Warriors head coach Steve Kerr expressed his displeasure with a late foul call that gave the Rockets a chance to secure the win. Kerr called the call “unconscionable” and said that it was unacceptable for an NBA game.
The winners of the semifinals, which will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, will move on to play in the championship game on Tuesday. The Hawks will face the Milwaukee Bucks, who defeated the Orlando Magic in their quarterfinal game on Tuesday, while the Rockets will take on the Thunder, who defeated the Dallas Mavericks in their quarterfinal game.
