With Kevin Durant sidelined due to a left ankle sprain, the Houston Rockets didn’t flinch-they rallied. And on Monday night in Indiana, it was the young core that rose to the occasion, grinding out a 118-114 win over the Pacers.
This one was all about the next generation stepping up. No Durant?
No problem. Alperen Sengun took the reins and didn’t let go, delivering a performance that was as dominant as it was timely.
The 21-year-old big man put together a monster stat line: 39 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 assists on 13-of-25 shooting. He also got to the line 18 times, converting 13 of them.
That kind of assertiveness in the paint-especially without a superstar flanking him-was exactly what the Rockets needed.
“I needed to be more aggressive today,” Sengun said postgame. And he backed up every word.
Sengun’s 39 points marked a new season high, and he tied his season-best in rebounds. But beyond the numbers, it was his physicality and presence on the glass that set the tone. Houston outrebounded Indiana 56-33, and Sengun was the engine behind that edge.
He wasn’t alone, though. Jabari Smith Jr. chipped in a smooth 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting, knocking down three triples and staying perfect from the line. His ability to stretch the floor and hit timely shots helped keep the Pacers at arm’s length.
Tari Eason brought the energy off the bench, grabbing 10 boards to go with 9 points. His activity on both ends-especially on the glass-was a big part of Houston’s physical advantage.
And then there was Amen Thompson. The rookie continues to show flashes of being a future star, nearly posting a triple-double with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists, plus 2 steals and 2 blocks. His all-around impact was felt in every phase of the game, from pushing the tempo to making key defensive plays down the stretch.
Despite the loss, Pascal Siakam was a bright spot for Indiana. The All-Star forward poured in 27 points on 12-of-21 shooting and dished out 5 assists.
He knocked down two of his three attempts from deep and kept the Pacers within striking distance all night. But the Pacers, now 13-37 and still stuck at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, couldn’t match Houston’s energy on the boards or their execution in crunch time.
The win moves Houston to 31-17, solidifying their spot as the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference and continuing a hot stretch that’s seen them win eight of their last ten. Up next, they return home for a back-to-back set at Toyota Center-first against Boston (31-18) on Wednesday, then Charlotte (22-28) on Thursday.
Both games tip off at 7:00 p.m. Central.
With Durant’s status still uncertain, the Rockets’ young core just sent a clear message: they’re not just filling in-they’re growing up fast.