The Rockets currently hold second place in the Western Conference with a record of 32 wins and 14 losses, thanks in large part to Şengün’s contributions. His selection marks a historic milestone as he becomes only the second Turkish player in NBA history to earn an All-Star spot, following Mehmet Okur in 2007.

With the Cavaliers down two points, Darius Garland, their potential All-Star guard and 90 percent free-throw shooter, sat alone at the line with the chance to give Cleveland the lead. Even if he failed to make all three free throws, Cleveland, via a Flagrant One on the Rockets, would have the ball with a chance to seal the game.

In a bizarre finish, the Rockets (29-14) had a huge win over the Cavs (36-7). Alperen Sengun made his late free throws, and Darius Garland did not.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Darius Garland scored 26 points and Evan Mobley had 16 points and 10 rebounds after both were named All-Star reserves, helping the NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers to a 137-115 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night.

HOUSTON (AP) — Alperen Sengun made two free throws with 4.5 seconds left and Darius Garland missed two of three free throws after that to allow the Houston Rockets to hold on for a 109-108 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

Joining Wembanyama as a West reserve are Jaren Jackson Jr., Jalen Williams, Anthony Edwards, Anthony Davis, James Harden and Alperen Şengün. The seven reserves from the East are Jaylen Brown, Pascal Siakam, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham, Damian Lillard and Tyler Herro, as selected by the conference’s coaches.

The versatile guard is named to the Western Conference reserves; teammate Norman Powell is not despite averaging a team-best 24 points per game.

Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell combined for 72 points in the defeat, losing three in a row for the first time this season.

Domantas Sabonis is The Biggest Snub What is a snub? A snub is a guy that can't get no love from ... the voting panel for the NBA All-Star Game. Maybe a handful of you understood that joke. But it is true.

What once defined the Cavs — their defensive grit — has devolved into a glaring issue, and it cost them again in a 135-131 loss to the Houston Rockets on Saturday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker was not selected as a reserve for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game.

At the beginning of the season, Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George were all expected to be among the players selected.