The Houston Rockets kept their unbeaten start rolling Tuesday night, beating the Atlanta Hawks 120-110 behind a heavy dose of efficiency, physicality, and Alperen Sengun doing just about everything.
Houston controlled the game with a 53.1% shooting night, a 52-35 edge on the boards, and nine blocks. The Rockets also built a lead that got as large as 22 points, then held off Atlanta’s push to finish the job.
Sengun was the centerpiece. He piled up 29 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, and six steals, giving Houston a little bit of everything in one of the most complete performances of the night. He shot 11-15 from the field, made his lone three, and went 6-8 at the line while constantly pressuring Atlanta’s defense.
Kevin Durant added 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists, one steal, and four blocks in 30 minutes. He went 6-13 from the floor and hit nine of his 10 free throws, giving Houston a steady scoring option and a strong defensive presence around the rim.
Jabari Smith Jr. also chipped in with a double-double, while Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard each scored 13 points off the bench. Eason added eight rebounds, two assists, and three blocks, and Sheppard finished with four assists and two steals to help keep the Rockets’ attack moving.
Atlanta got solid nights from Jalen Johnson, who scored 21, and CJ McCollum, who added 20, but the Hawks never quite matched Houston’s pace or force. The difference showed up in the details: the Rockets scored 32 points off turnovers, held a 26-20 edge in fast-break points, and dominated the paint 64-56.
Houston’s work on the glass was especially telling. Jabari Smith Jr. led the team with 12 rebounds, while Sengun and Durant each had nine and Eason grabbed eight in 33 minutes. The Rockets collected 40 defensive rebounds to Atlanta’s 22, limiting second chances even though the Hawks did grab 13 offensive boards.
The shooting numbers told the rest of the story. Houston hit 43 of 81 shots, while Atlanta made 42 of 98 and shot just 28.2% from three. The Rockets only made eight of 27 from deep, but they made up for it by getting to the line, finishing 26-for-32.
There was one blemish on the night: Houston turned it over 22 times, compared with Atlanta’s 13. Even so, the Rockets’ defense and efficiency were enough to keep the result comfortably in their favor.
For Houston, the formula was clear again - Sengun driving the offense, Durant adding veteran polish, the bench supplying energy, and the team winning the physical battle.
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