By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After 11 lead changes, the Golden State Warriors held on in the final seconds to defeat the Houston Rockets, 109-106, in Chase Center.
A win on Monday shaped a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google.
Alperen Sengun scored 31 points, including a bucket to keep the visitors close in crunch time. The 22-year-old Turkish center made 12/28 from the field. With ten rebounds, he posted a double-double. Over 42 minutes, he added five assists and two steals.
“It doesn’t matter, when you lose, whatever you do. We just go to win. When you do that, that’s important,” Sengun said in a postgame press conference, downplaying his showing, “Of course, I’m happy with what I am doing, but there’s a lot more to improve on myself. Hopefully, I am going to be in this league for a long time and keep improving every year, just get better and better.”
“I play for the people out there, for my family out here,” he answered a question about representing his family and Turkiye, “Just to make them proud, when they are watching at night, waking up and seeing in the morning. It’s good for them to see it.”
Sinking three free throws, Jimmy Butler broke a late tie and tucked in a couple more to seal the victory and end up with a team-high 27 points. Dutch Quinten Post chipped in 13 points with 4/11 field goals, four rebounds, and three assists, lasting just under 20 minutes off the bench.
Returning to Houston’s Toyota Center, Game 5 is scheduled on Wednesday.