Alperen Sengun scores game-high 30 points in Rockets' win over the Nets

POSTED: January 3, 2024 -- 11:25 p.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets topped the Brooklyn Nets 112-101 Wednesday night behind a game-high 30 points from center Alperen Sengun. Sengun has scored 30+ points in three of the past six games after doing so three times over the first 173 games of his career.

With 5:06 left in the 2nd quarter, Sengun was called for a technical foul for a shove against Nets' rail-thin center Nic Claxton. (Claxton did a great acting job.)

Sengun scored 9 straight points after the tech. He scored 12 more in the 3rd quarter. Alpi has scored 20+ points in a career-high seven straight games and is averaging 28.1 ppg on 60.7% shooting over that span.

Houston trailed the Nets by 1 (50-49) at halftime in part to 9 turnovers in the second quarter. Houston turned over the ball 12 times in the first half.

"We had some uncharacteristic turnovers," Fred VanVleet, Rockets point guard said in the locker room after the game.

"The message at halftime was take care of the ball," Ime Udoka, Rockets Head Coach, said after the game. "Get shots up; and, we're in good position."

The Rockets only committed 3 turnovers in the second half.

"Taking care of the basketball," VanVleet added. We were able to get that under control, make couple more shots."

Houston (17-15) outscored the Nets 38-25 in the third quarter. The Rockets made 6 of 10 three-pointers in the quarter and made 11 of 18 (61.1 fg%) field goals overall in the period.

Jalen Green made 2 of 4 from three in third while rookie Cam Whitmore was a perfect 2-for-2 from three in 3 minutes, 31 seconds in the quarter. Amen Thompson hit a 3 to end the quarter.

Whitmore finished the game with 11 points and 2 steals in 16 minutes of play while Thompson scored 10 points and added a career-high tying 6 rebounds in 20 minutes of play.

The Nets (15-20) double- and triple-teamed Sengun in the post; but, Sengun did a good job reading the defenses and passing the ball out of the post to his teammates which resulted in numerous open three-point shot opportunities. Houston capitalized and made 19 of 39 threes (48.7 3pt%) in the game.

"My teammates are getting wide open; and, we are making a lot of shots," Sengun said after the game. "I love it (getting double-teamed)."

VanVleet said being able to get the ball to Sengun and allow him to facilitate is "invaluable".

"It is a great luxury to have. It is one of the reasons why we play at the level we play it," VanVleet added. "It is a testament to his growth as a player and us learning how to play around him and continue to grow as a team."

With the win tonight, the Rockets snap a three-game losing streak to the Nets. Houston has won two in a row after losing three straight prior while Brooklyn has lost a season-high tying five straight.

NOTES:

Houston has 10 wins by double-digits this season after recording six in 2022-23. The Rockets are outscoring opponents by an average of 9.5 points per game at Toyota Center this season.

Houston outshot Brooklyn 48.7% to 38.7%. The Rockets have outshot their opponent in each of the past three games after doing so once the six games prior. Houston is shooting 48.8% over the past 10 games, up from 45.7% the first 22 games. The Rockets have held opponents below 40.0% shooting six times this season (6-0 mark) after doing so seven times in 2022-23.

The Rockets' next game is Friday, January 5, at home, against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tip is set for 7 p.m. Central Time.

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