The Houston Rockets edged out the Milwaukee Bucks 100-97 on Tuesday night, led by Jalen Green’s 25 points and Alperen Sengun’s 23.
Sengun put Houston ahead 96-95 by splitting a pair of free throws before extending the lead to three with two more from the line in the final 30 seconds.
Brook Lopez missed a potential go-ahead three-pointer, but Sengun’s turnover gave Milwaukee another chance, leading to a Giannis Antetokounmpo dunk that cut the deficit to one with 8.1 seconds remaining.
Green then sank two crucial free throws to make it a three-point game. Damian Lillard was fouled but missed his first free throw before a rare double lane violation on the second attempt forced a jump ball. Lillard recovered the ball and attempted a game-tying three, but it bounced off the rim.
Antetokounmpo finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Lillard added 22 points on 7-of-22 shooting. The loss ended Milwaukee’s four-game winning streak.
The game took a heated turn with about four and a half minutes left when Amen Thompson was ejected for a flagrant foul 2 on Antetokounmpo. The Rockets guard pulled the Bucks star down by the head and neck while contesting a shot, prompting officials to review the play before issuing the ejection.
Milwaukee struggled offensively in the fourth quarter, managing just 12 points and going scoreless for nearly six minutes. Lillard finally ended the drought with two free throws, but Houston’s defense held firm.
Dillon Brooks contributed 16 points for the Rockets, while Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. added 12 and 13 points, respectively. Sengun also pulled down 11 rebounds, recording a double-double.
For Milwaukee, Brook Lopez had 12 points, and AJ Green provided a spark off the bench with 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from three-point range. However, the Bucks shot just 40% from the field and 32.4% from deep.
Houston capitalized on second-chance opportunities, out-rebounding Milwaukee 53-37, with a 16-4 edge on offensive boards. Despite their defensive success, the Rockets struggled offensively in the fourth quarter, scoring only 15 points.
With the win, Houston improved to 36-22 and remains in fifth place in the Western Conference. Milwaukee dropped to 32-25 but retains the fifth seed in the East.
