After struggling to find consistency last month, Alperen Sengun got off to a brisk start this February, as he stepped up big in the Houston Rockets’ 118-114 road victory against the Indiana Pacers on Monday evening.
The Turkish center poured in 39 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists on 13-for-25 shooting from the field and 13-for-18 shooting from the free throw line in 35 minutes to lead the Houston Rockets, who were without Kevin Durant due to a sprained left ankle. Durant sustained the injury when he stepped on a fan’s foot during a recent contest.
“January’s the past now. It’s the month of February, so I gotta wake up. I was sloppy last month. It is a new month, and I just need to dominate every game,” Sengun told Vanessa Richardson of the Space City Home Network during the postgame interview.
“I didn’t settle. Just kept attacking and attacking, finding my shot, and I got lucky today. KD wasn’t here, so I needed to be more aggressive today,” he added.
Houston Rockets News: Jabari Smith Jr. reflects on the close win vs. Indiana Pacers
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. commended his teammates for filling in for the injured Kevin Durant in last night’s win over the Indiana Pacers. Smith did his part by being their second-leading scorer, having recorded 19 points and four rebounds on 6-for-12 shooting from the field across 35 minutes of action.
“We rallied together and got a win. I preach about our bench all the time, but everybody’s always prepared to play,” Smith said via the Houston Chronicle. “Everybody is ready to play, no matter if you’re in the rotation or out of the rotation. Everybody is cheering the guys on. You don’t see that often. You see guys pouting and waiting for their turn… that just doesn’t go on around here.”
Reed Sheppard drew a rare start with Durant on the sidelines. The former Kentucky Wildcat chipped in 11 points, four assists, and two steals on 4-for-13 shooting from the field in 25 minutes.
