ROCKETS WIN IN OT
Rockets beat Wolves in OT to clinch NBA Cup group
Nov 26, 2024, 10:43 pm
Rockets defeat the Timberwolves, 117-111. Photo by David Berding/Getty Images.
Alperen Sengun had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, Fred VanVleet added 27 points and 11 assists, and the Houston Rockets pulled out a 117-111 overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA Cup game on Tuesday night.
Dillon Brooks added 22 points for Houston, which improved to 3-0 in the competition and clinched West Group A and a spot in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
Anthony Edwards had 29 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota, which has lost three in a row. Julius Randle scored 21, while Naz Reid had 19 off the bench.
Rookie Rob Dillingham, the No. 8 pick in the draft out of Kentucky, had his best game of the season, helping to fill the void left by point guard Mike Conley, who missed his third straight game with a left great toe sprain. Dillingham had 12 points and season highs with seven assists and five rebounds.
Takeaways
Rockets: This young team has shown it’s for real, particularly on the defensive end. It had 12 steals, nine blocks and forced the Wolves into 17 turnovers that led to 16 points.
Timberwolves: Regardless of the loss, Minnesota needed this type of performance after back-to-back losses and a narrow win over Phoenix, which was without Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
Key moment
With 15 seconds left in regulation, Sengun got a pass on a drive to the basket for a potential layup, but Gobert came across for the block to keep the score tied. Edwards’ jumper on the other end was off the mark and the game went to overtime.
Key stat
Houston shot 15 of 37 from 3-point territory, including a 10 of 18 in the first half to build its lead.
UP NEXT
Both teams were playing the first game of a back-to-back set. Houston plays at Philadelphia on Wednesday night, while the Wolves stay home against Sacramento.
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Critical factors at play in Astros' showdown with Athletics
May 27, 2025, 2:20 pm
Christian Walker hit a game-winning, two-run homer in the ninth inning to lift the Houston Astros to a 5-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.
WALK(ER) - OFF.#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/n6sZvAux3Y
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 25, 2025
The game was tied at 3 when Jose Altuve singled with no outs in the ninth. Walker, who had three hits, then sent a fastball from Casey Legumina (4-2) into the seats in left field to give the Astros the walkoff victory and 3-1 series win over the AL West leaders.
Walker's big game came after the struggling first baseman had just three hits combined in his previous seven games.
Bryan King (3-0) struck out Randy Arozarena to end Seattle’s ninth and manager Dan Wilson was ejected for the first time in his career for arguing with home plate umpire Laz Diaz after the call.
Seattle had runners on first and third with one out in the eighth when Ben Williamson hit a grounder to second baseman Mauricio Dubón. He threw home in time to get J.P. Crawford out at the plate before Leo Rivas grounded out for the third out.
The Astros loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, but Isaac Paredes grounded out to leave everyone stranded. That came after they loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but came away empty after Seattle turned a double play.
Jake Meyers was on first with two outs in the sixth when Cam Smith laced an RBI double down the right field line to tie it at 3.
Seattle starter Luis Castillo allowed nine hits and three runs with six strikeouts in six innings. Castillo threw 114 pitches Sunday to tie Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene for most pitches thrown in a game this season.
Houston’s Colton Gordon allowed seven hits and three runs in five innings in his third major league start.
Julio Rodríguez had three hits and Mitch Garver drove in two runs for the Mariners.
Rodríguez and Arozarena hit consecutive singles with two outs in the first before Garver made it 2-0 on his double to center.
There were two outs in the third with Rodríguez on third when Donovan Solano singled on a grounder to left field to extend the lead to 3-0.
Houston cut it to 3-1 on an RBI single by Walker with one out in the bottom of the third. A sacrifice fly by Caratini that Leody Taveras jumped to catch on the warning track scored Altuve to make it 3-2.
Key moment
Walker's walkoff home run gave him three RBIs, tying a season high.
Key stat
The teams combined to go 4 for 22 with runners in scoring position.
Up next
Both teams are off Monday before Houston opens a series with the Athletics and Seattle gets a visit from Washington on Tuesday night.