The Houston Rockets’ unbeaten start may be getting another test before they ever reach the floor against Dallas.
Alperen Sengun has been listed as questionable for Friday night’s matchup with the Mavericks, according to the NBA injury report. If he can’t go, it would mark his second straight missed game after sitting out part of the Rockets’ matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks because of the same injury.
That’s a tough possible absence for Houston, because Sengun has been one of the driving forces behind the team’s 5-0 start. While the Rockets didn’t make the kind of splashy offseason moves that turn heads, they’ve opened the year as the NBA’s best team. Kevin Durant and Amen Thompson have done plenty of the heavy lifting on offense, combining for 40.6 points per night, but Sengun has been right there with them as a major reason the group keeps rolling.
The Turkish big man is putting up 24.5 points, nine rebounds and seven assists per game, and he’s been doing it in a way that highlights just how complete his game has become under Ime Udoka.
Even with the injury concern, Sengun’s recent production shows how much he means to Houston’s attack. Earlier in the week, he delivered 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists against the Atlanta Hawks, helping the Rockets build a ten-point edge by the final buzzer.
If Sengun is ruled out again, Tari Eason could be in line to fill that spot once more, just as he did against Milwaukee. For now, though, Houston will wait to see how Udoka handles the rotation.
Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. EST.
In Other News...
Rockets Just Reached An Early Mark Fans Haven't Seen In Years
A 5-0 start has a way of changing the mood around a team quickly, and Houston just hit that mark for the first time since the 2014-15 season after rolling past Milwaukee 132-100. The Rockets did it while missing three of their top-nine players, a reminder that this early run has not been built on a full deck. Even so, the group kept its edge on the defensive end, especially in the first half, where it bottled up the Bucks and kept them from generating many second-chance looks.
The night also gave Houston a glimpse of how this roster can survive short-handed stretches. Fred VanVleet shook off a scoreless first quarter to finish with 24 points, while Clint Capela provided a needed lift off the bench. For a team trying to establish a new standard after years of uneven starts, those kinds of contributions matter as much as the record itself. [Read more 🡒]
Rockets Suddenly Have A Kevin Durant Luxury Contenders Crave
Kevin Durant has already found a different kind of comfort in Houston, and it has as much to do with the Rockets around him as it does with anything he is doing on the floor. The teams strong start has given Durant easier scoring chances and allowed him to trim back his minutes, a sign that Houstons improved playmaking is easing the burden on a veteran scorer who no longer has to force every possession.
Alperen Senguns role has also been shaped by that depth, with the Rockets able to rest key pieces during games and still keep the offense moving. Houstons flexibility is the kind contenders spend years chasing, because it can keep legs fresher and lineups sharper when the schedule gets heavier and the playoffs arrive. For a team trying to turn a hot start into something lasting, that luxury may prove just as valuable as any single star performance. [Read more 🡒]