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Turkish international Alperen Sengun delivered one of his most dominant performances of the season on Monday night, posting 39 points and 16 rebounds to lift the Houston Rockets to a 118–114 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
The win gives Houston its third in a row and moves it to 31–17, keeping the team in fourth place in the NBA’s Western Conference.
The Turkish international center, who was left off this month’s NBA All-Star roster, carried Houston offensively with Kevin Durant unavailable due to a left ankle sprain. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka confirmed that Durant suffered the injury after stepping on a fan’s foot.
Center Steven Adams also remained sidelined following season-ending ankle surgery, leaving Sengun to shoulder much of the interior workload.
Sengun made 13 of 25 field goal attempts and converted 13 of 18 free throws, including eight in the decisive fourth quarter. His free throws proved crucial in a late 12–2 run that gave Houston a 109–101 lead with under five minutes to play.
Despite missing key players, the Rockets had enough firepower to hold off the Pacers, who fell to 27–22. All-Star forward Pascal Siakam scored 27 points and Bennedict Mathurin added 25 as Indiana battled back from a 12-point third-quarter deficit to briefly take the lead late in the period.
A potential momentum-shifting buzzer-beater by Siakam at the end of the first half was overturned upon review, and Houston took a 63–56 lead into halftime.
The Pacers regained the lead at 81–79 late in the third after a fast-break finish from Siakam, but Sengun’s clutch shooting down the stretch secured the win for Houston.
Jabari Smith Jr. contributed 19 points and Amen Thompson added 16 for Houston, who have now won five of their last six games. Indiana’s comeback was supported by Jarace Walker’s passing and late-game energy but ultimately fell short of extending their own winning streak to three.
The Rockets will return home to host the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, Feb. 4, as they look to continue their momentum.
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