The Emirates NBA Cup West Semifinal matchup is locked in, with the Houston Rockets securing their spot in Las Vegas after an electrifying victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. They will now face the tournament’s top seed, the OKC Thunder, for a chance to reach the final round and compete for the $500,000-per-player prize.
Although initial reactions to the in-season tournament were somewhat lukewarm, player excitement has noticeably grown as the competition has progressed
What makes this matchup particularly exciting is that the Thunder (19-5) and the Rockets (17-8) are the top two seeds in the Western Conference standings.
Additionally, both teams are currently among the league’s best defensively and rank in the top five for overall net rating.
Over time, these two franchises have cultivated a heated and contentious rivalry.
