Rockets center Alperen Sengun aims to build on a breakout performance when Houston hosts the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday for the third meeting of the season between the in-state rivals. Sengun struggled to find his stroke over his first five outings of 2024-25, shooting just 37 percent from the floor while averaging 15.2 points.
He scored 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting in an overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday but played just 21 minutes after the Rockets fell behind big before battling back. The big man carried his promising play from Saturday into Monday and helped Houston to a 109-97 home win over the New York Knicks. Sengun was brilliant in every fashion against the Knicks, scoring 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting while adding 14 rebounds, five assists and four blocks.
Before the game, Rockets coach Ime Udoka emphasized to Sengun the need to run the offense through the post, where Sengun had an advantage against New York's tandem of Karl-Anthony Towns and Jericho Sims. "Alpi's going to bounce back eventually," Udoka said. "We had a good talk (earlier Monday) about ways he can impact the game and ways I can help him, as well as him helping himself out there.
"I thought he had a phenomenal game (against the Knicks) and stuffed the stat sheet across the board and took on the challenge on both ends." Houston's ability to determine its top offensive threat on a nightly basis might come to define its season. Sengun and guard Jalen Green, both in their fourth s.