Alperen Sengun gets a prime early-season test when the Rockets face the Spurs in Game 2, and the spotlight will fall squarely on his matchup with Victor Wembanyama. Sengun showed encouraging signs in Houston’s opener against the Mavericks, but this one carries a different kind of weight. A strong night against “The Alien” would send a clear message.
What makes this duel so intriguing is that Sengun has already shown he can handle Wembanyama better than most. Wembanyama usually turns matchups into a defensive headache, but Sengun’s blend of size and physical play gives him a real shot to fight back. He can get into Wemby’s body, move him off balance and create room for post finishes.
The numbers back that up. In 10 career games against Wembanyama, Sengun has averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists while shooting 49% from the field and 39% from three.
That perimeter touch matters, too, because it can pull Wemby away from the rim. Houston wants to see more of that kind of growth this season from Sengun and the rest of its young core.
There’s also a tactical layer to it. If Sengun is spacing the floor, he can occupy Wembanyama’s attention when Houston’s other players have the ball. And when the ball does come to Sengun, the Rockets would like to see him go right at the Spurs star in the post and in the paint, with Houston’s swarming defense helping to wear Wembanyama down over 48 minutes.
This is also about reputation. Sengun has been productive, but he still doesn’t get the respect his résumé suggests.
Fansided’s own site experts even rated him the most overrated player in the NBA. A strong showing against one of the league’s brightest young stars would be one of the cleanest ways to push back on that label.
To plenty of fans, Sengun and Wembanyama aren’t in the same conversation. Sengun would likely disagree. He’s a 2x All-Star who often drives Houston’s offense in ways Wembanyama can’t match.
If Sengun can match Wembanyama’s impact, or even get the better of him, Houston has enough around him to beat San Antonio. That would be a loud way to say the Rockets are contenders.
The assignment goes beyond scoring, too. Sengun needs to hold up defensively and help limit Wembanyama’s efficiency.
Wembanyama has averaged 20 points per game against Sengun in his career, but he’s shot just 45% from the field and a paltry 18% from the field in those matchups. Houston needs that trend to continue, and Sengun’s performance will be a big reason why.
This could be a make-or-break year for him, and this is the stage to prove what he’s worth.
In Other News...
Rockets Already Face One Big Question About Going All In
The Rockets opened the season by beating the Mavericks with a starting five that looked every bit like a team ready to measure itself against the best in the West. Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun gave Houston a blend of creation, size and scoring that already has the roster looking more serious than it did a year ago, which is exactly why the conversation around this group has moved from promise to urgency.
Zach Lowe pushed that point on his podcast, arguing Houston should at least be willing to think bigger if the goal is a championship run. He said the Rockets have the kind of assets that can matter in a star chase, with players such as Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason, plus draft picks, available if the front office decides the current core needs another jolt. The question now is whether Houston is ready to stay patient with what it has or start shopping for the kind of upgrade that changes a ceiling overnight. [Read more 🡒]
Rockets Passed A Clutch Test Against The Spurs In A Big Way
The Rockets got exactly the kind of late-game test that can reveal something about a young team, and they passed it in a tight 113-110 win over the Spurs. Alperen Sengun set the tone with 29 points, seven assists and seven rebounds, while Amen Thompson kept filling the box score with 20 points and 10 rebounds in a game that stayed close deep into the fourth quarter.
Kevin Durant also delivered in the biggest spots, finishing with 20 points and helping swing the finish Houstons way when the pressure ratcheted up. For a team that has been looking for proof it can execute when every possession matters, this was the sort of grind-it-out result that carries more weight than an ordinary regular-season win. [Read more 🡒]
Jabari Smith Jr. Just Gave Rockets Fans Another Reason To Believe
Jabari Smith Jr. gave the Rockets home crowd an early-season glimpse of what his next step could look like in Houstons 128-110 win over Dallas. He played with a level of confidence and offensive freedom that stood out from the opening night atmosphere, knocking down shots, finding his spots and looking far more comfortable as a go-to scorer than he often has in the past.
There was real reason for optimism in the way Smith carried himself, especially with Kevin Durant now in the mix as a veteran presence he can learn from every day. The Rockets do not need him to become a finished product overnight, but performances like this one reinforce why his development remains one of the most important storylines on the roster. [Read more 🡒]