Alperen Sengun heard the noise - and responded with authority.
After a week where his defense was under the microscope - even drawing pointed comments from Rockets head coach Ime Udoka - the 23-year-old big man delivered a statement performance Saturday night in Houston’s 112-106 road win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. And make no mistake: this one mattered. Not just because it snapped a two-game skid, but because it came against the defending NBA champions, a team that had bested Houston twice already this season.
Sengun didn’t just show up - he took over. The 2025 All-Star posted his second triple-double of the season with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, shooting 50% from the field.
He added six combined steals and blocks and turned the ball over just once. That’s a complete game by any standard, but what had Udoka raving postgame was Sengun’s impact on the defensive end, particularly in the second half.
“He was phenomenal,” Udoka said, via Will Guillory. And he wasn’t exaggerating.
After trailing by six at halftime - and by as many as 15 earlier - Houston flipped the script in the third and fourth quarters, fueled by Sengun’s defensive energy and playmaking from the post. It wasn’t just the numbers; it was the timing. Sengun’s presence in the paint disrupted OKC’s rhythm, and his passing helped the Rockets unlock better looks down the stretch.
This win marked Houston’s first in three tries this season against the Thunder, who still sit atop the NBA with a 40-13 record. The Rockets, now 32-19, hold firm at No. 4 in the West and head into the final stretch before the All-Star break with some serious momentum.
While Sengun was the engine, he wasn’t alone. The Rockets got meaningful contributions across the board:
- Tari Eason poured in a team-high 26 points to go with 8 rebounds and 3 steals. He was relentless, attacking the rim, hunting shots from deep (5-of-13 from three), and playing with the kind of edge that gives Houston its identity.
- Jabari Smith Jr. added a double-double with 22 points and 10 boards, showing his growth as a two-way contributor.
He got to the line 11 times and knocked down 9 of them - a sign of his increasing assertiveness.
- Kevin Durant (yes, still doing it) chipped in 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting in a smooth, efficient outing. He didn’t force much but made his touches count.
- Reed Sheppard continued to look like a seasoned vet despite his youth, scoring 16 points on 58.3% shooting, while grabbing 6 rebounds and 3 steals. His energy and poise have been a quiet revelation this season.
On the other side, the Thunder were without some key names - including MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Ajay Mitchell - but still showed why they’re the league’s top team. Even short-handed, they pushed Houston to the wire.
- Cason Wallace led the way for OKC with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting, adding 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals in a do-it-all performance.
- Isaiah Joe was lights out from the stripe (8-of-8) and efficient from deep (3-of-6), finishing with 21 points and 3 steals.
- Chet Holmgren posted a strong double-double of his own: 17 points and 14 rebounds, showing his usual touch and control around the rim.
Both teams were managing injuries heading into the contest. The Rockets were without Amen Thompson (illness), Fred VanVleet (knee surgery), and Steven Adams, who is out for the season following ankle surgery. VanVleet’s status remains uncertain, but the expectation is that he’ll miss extended time.
The Rockets now turn their attention to a home back-to-back against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday and Wednesday - their final tune-ups before the All-Star break. With Sengun rounding back into form and the supporting cast stepping up, Houston looks like a team ready to make noise in the second half of the season.
And if Sengun keeps bringing that kind of two-way impact? The rest of the West better be paying attention.