🚀 Rockets Break the Curse

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Today’s Playbook

Top of the Key 🔑: Rockets snap their losing streak to the Warriors, while the Hawks outlast the Knicks to join the NBA Cup semifinals in Vegas.

Fast Break Facts ⚡: Pritchard fuels a Celtics 3-point party, and monster double-doubles carry the Kings and Heat to big wins.

Beyond the Arc 🎥: Kyrie dominates a team 1v1 tournament, Bronny drops a career-high, and Trae Young trolls the Knicks online.

Trivia Time 🧠: Got game? Put your NBA smarts to the test with today’s trivia!

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Top of the Key 🔑

Rockets Break the Curse with Thrilling Win Over Warriors

Houston ended a nearly five-year drought against Golden State with a dramatic 91-90 victory, securing their spot in the NBA Cup semifinals. Alperen Sengun led the way with 26 points and 11 rebounds, while the Rockets finished the game on a stunning 9-1 run.

The win snapped Houston’s 15-game losing streak against the Warriors and highlighted their defensive grit. In the final minutes, Houston forced two shot clock violations, two turnovers, and capped it off with a clutch block by Jabari Smith Jr. to seal the victory.

Fred VanVleet’s late three-pointer and Jalen Green’s game-winning free throws put Houston ahead in the last seconds, marking their first lead of the quarter. Sengun celebrated the team’s growth, saying, “Against a championship team, we finished the game good — that was great.”

Now, the Rockets head to Las Vegas to face OKC on Saturday, just two wins away from the NBA Cup title.

Hawks Stay Hot, Punch Their Ticket to Vegas

Atlanta’s red-hot streak continued with a 108-100 win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, earning them a semifinals matchup against the Bucks. Trae Young powered the Hawks with 22 points and 11 assists, marking his 18th points-assists double-double this season.

Atlanta dominated the second half, outscoring New York 61-46, thanks to a balanced effort from their starters and bench. Four Hawks players recorded double-doubles — a feat the team has pulled off more than any other in recent years.

Jalen Johnson shined with 21 points and 15 rebounds, while De’Andre Hunter led all scorers with 24 points. The Hawks’ bench outscored New York’s 43-14, providing the depth needed to secure the win.

“We knew what the stakes were coming into this game,” Young said. “We needed everybody to step up, and everybody did.”

With a 7-1 record in their last eight games, Atlanta heads to Vegas looking to keep their momentum alive.

Fast Break Facts ⚡

1. Pritchard Leads Celtics' 3-Point Frenzy

• Celtics 123, Pistons 99: Payton Pritchard had a career night with 27 points, 10 assists, and seven triples, leading Boston to its 20th win of the season.

• The Celtics bounced back in dominant fashion after a loss, staying perfect in such games this season (5-0).

• Record-Breaker: Pritchard is the first Celtic to log 25+ points, 10+ assists, and 5+ threes off the bench in a game.

• Downtown Dominance: Boston hit 20+ threes for the 10th time this season, going 20-of-48 from deep — they’re undefeated (10-0) when they reach this milestone.

2. Double-Double Monsters Keep Kings & Heat Streaking

• Kings 111, Pelicans 109: Domantas Sabonis delivered a massive 32-point, 20-rebound performance to give Sacramento its third straight win.

  • Sabonis now leads the league in double-doubles (22) and logged the first 30/20 game of the NBA season.

• Heat 114, Raptors 104: Bam Adebayo posted 21 points and 16 rebounds, while Tyler Herro joined Heat legends like LeBron and Wade by reaching 550+ points in the first 23 games of the season.

  • Erik Spoelstra moved up to 18th on the all-time coaching wins list (763), passing Nate McMillan.

Trivia Time 🧠

Beyond the Arc 🎥

1. Kyrie’s Crown 🏆
Kyrie Irving swept the Mavericks' 1v1 tournament and took home a championship belt, proving once again his handles are untouchable.

2. Bronny’s Breakout 🌟
Bronny James dropped a career-high 30 points in the G League, showing off his star potential.

3. Trae Trolls Again 😂
Trae Young hit X to troll the Knicks, keeping his MSG villain streak alive.

Closing Time ✌️

That’s a wrap for another week of hoops! Keep that fan energy high and your love for the game strong. We’ll be back next week with more stories, insights, and everything that makes basketball so great. Until then, stay passionate, stay connected, and keep enjoying the ride.