Thursday’s doubleheader at the Association featured another pair of NBA Emirates Cup games to determine the last two teams who will advance to the semis in Las Vegas. Find out who booked their coveted tickets:
Hawks Rout Knicks Behind Complete Team Effort
A strong third quarter was all the Atlanta Hawks needed to repulse the New York Knicks, 108-100, and advance to the NBA Emirates Cup semifinals in Las Vegas.
Down 54-47 after one half, the Hawks turned things around in the third, outscoring the Knicks, 34-18, behind Trae Young. Ice Trae started the onslaught with a personal 8-0—back-to-back triples plus a floater—to turn a 66-62 deficit into a 70-66 Hawks lead. Atlanta never looked back.
Young finished with 22 points and 11 assists, while De’Andre Hunter added 24 markers off the bench. Jalen Johnson had 21 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists. Josh Hart led the Knicks with 21 points, 8 boards, and 6 assists, but backcourt mate Jalen Brunson was held to just 14 points on 6-for-15 shooting.
Rockets Escape Warriors in Wild Ending
A foul call on a loose ball scramble helped the Houston Rockets escape the Golden State Warriors, 91-90, in the final NBA Emirates Cup quarterfinal pairing.
The Rockets led by 14 early but were down six late. They were still down 90-89 when a Jalen Green deflection caused a mad scramble for the ball. As he recovered the loose ball on the floor, the Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga came up from behind and tried to tie him up the jump ball but was instead called for a foul. Green made the two free throws for the lead.
In the next play, Jabari Smith Jr. blocked Brandin Podziemski’s potential game-winner at the buzzer to seal the victory.
Alperen Sengun’s 26 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals led the Rockets. Green finished with 12 points and 4 boards, while Smith chipped in 15 points and 2 blocks. Kuminga led the Warriors with 20 points and 7 boards, with Steph Curry contributing 19 points and 5 dimes.
NBA Emirates Cup Semis Cast Is Complete
With the Rockets’ and Hawks’ victories, the semifinal cast of the NBA Emirates Cup is now complete. Out East, the Hawks will take on the Milwaukee Bucks, while in the West, it will be the Rockets going up against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
