Alperen Sengun wasn’t supposed to be back this soon. After spraining his right ankle on January 3, the Rockets had him penciled in for a two-week recovery.
But the 21-year-old big man had other plans - returning to the court in just eight days. And if Tuesday night’s performance against the Bulls is any indication, Houston is glad he did.
Sengun dropped 23 points on 55.6% shooting, dished out 11 assists, and pulled down 7 rebounds in a win that halted a three-game skid. It wasn’t just a solid showing - it was a reminder of how central he is to everything the Rockets do. With him back in the lineup, Houston looked more like the team that had been climbing the Western Conference standings before injuries started piling up.
Let’s be clear: Sengun isn’t at full strength yet. He admitted as much ahead of Thursday’s high-profile home matchup against the defending champion Thunder. But he’s not letting that stop him from suiting up.
“Still not 100 percent,” Sengun said. “But when I’m out there, I don’t feel anything.
I just feel the game, and try to win. Whatever it takes, I’ll go for it.”
That mentality - gritty, team-first, and unbothered by discomfort - is exactly what Houston needs right now. The Rockets are in the thick of a jam-packed Western Conference playoff race, and every game carries weight.
Sengun knows it. And even if the ankle isn’t cooperating, his competitive fire clearly is.
“Twisting an ankle sucks,” he added. “But I’m getting through it.
I’ve played through [injuries] all my life, and I’m okay with it. My team is competing over there, and it’s a busy schedule right now.
I can’t just sit around if I don’t feel 100 percent and watch them out there.”
That busy schedule doesn’t let up anytime soon. Houston is staring down a tough back-to-back at home, with Oklahoma City (34-7) coming in Thursday night, followed by Minnesota (27-14) on Friday. Both teams are ahead of the Rockets in the standings, and both games will test Houston’s depth and resilience - especially with key players still sidelined.
Tari Eason remains out with a right ankle sprain of his own, suffered just days after Sengun’s injury. Josh Okogie has stepped into the starting lineup in Eason’s absence, giving the Rockets some defensive bite on the wing, but Eason’s energy and versatility are hard to replace.
Steven Adams is also dealing with a right ankle sprain, adding to the team’s frontcourt concerns. It’s not exactly the ideal setup heading into a stretch against two of the West’s best, but this Rockets team has shown it can scrap.
The good news? Houston has been nearly unbeatable at home lately, winning 12 of its last 13 at Toyota Center. That kind of home-court momentum matters, especially when the schedule gets tight and the rotation gets thinner.
Head coach Ime Udoka hasn’t tipped his hand yet on who might be available for Friday’s game against the Timberwolves, but it’s safe to say the Rockets will need everything they can get. Sengun’s early return gives them a major boost - not just in production, but in presence.
He’s the engine of this offense, the connector who makes the pieces fit. And even at less than 100 percent, he’s making his impact felt.
Tipoff against the Thunder is set for 6:30 p.m. Central on Thursday night, with national coverage on Prime Video. With the Rockets surging at home and Sengun back in the mix, this one’s got all the ingredients for a statement game.