Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun earned his first career All-Star selection on Thursday, but the fourth-year veteran’s achievement came on a rough day for him and his team.
Not only did Sengun miss a game for the first time this season due to a bruised calf, but the Rockets fell 120-119 at Memphis, which pulled the Grizzlies to within a half-game of Houston for the second seed in the Western Conference. Thursday’s result also drew the teams even atop the win column in the Southwest Division standings.
Listed as questionable, Sengun may again be unavailable when the Rockets try to maintain their slim division lead on Saturday against the visiting Brooklyn Nets.
Sengun is averaging 19.1 points, 10.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists this season. Injuries have started to creep up on Houston, which has been without starting forward Jabari Smith Jr. (hand) since Jan. 1 and has squeezed 31 games out of reserve forward Tari Eason, who continues to battle lingering leg soreness.
Only five Rockets have managed to play at least 40 games this season, paced by guard Jalen Green, who has made 151 consecutive starts dating back to Feb. 26, 2023. The 22-year-old has missed just 21 games over his three-plus seasons with the Rockets, providing stability for an ascending team looking to establish reliable building blocks.
“It’s something that you don’t take for granted. He hasn’t missed a game since I’ve been here,” second-year Rockets coach Ime Udoka said of Green, who leads the team with 21.3 points per game. “He plays through everything. He plays through injuries and pains and some things that most guys would sit out from. That takes a certain amount of toughness for sure.
“You look at him being slight of frame and think he’s not the most physical guy, but that toughness to be able to play through everything (is valuable). Many nights he’s been sick and had swelling or injuries that guys would sit out from.
“We knew that about him last year after he played all 82 and he’s had great carryover into this year as far as that. It shows his competitiveness and his physical and mental toughness,” Udoka said.
The Nets won 104-83 at Charlotte on Wednesday to snap a seven-game losing streak and interrupt a run of 12 losses in 13 games.
Brooklyn was without Cam Thomas (hamstring), Bojan Bogdanovic (foot), Noah Clowney (ankle) and Cameron Johnson (ankle), but did welcome back Ben Simmons from a five-game illness absence. Trendon Watford paired nine points with four rebounds over 18 minutes in his first game action since Dec. 16.
Six players scored in double figures for Brooklyn on Wednesday. With the depleted roster, a balanced approach to offense is a necessary strategy.
“The ball’s got energy. If the ball moves and everybody scores, everybody touches the ball,” Nets coach Jordi Fernandez said. “That really makes a difference. It’s a good thing to see.
“We’ve had seven games where we’ve had multiple guys in double digits, and that’s how we want to play for sure.”
