Tag: Nikola Jokić

Alperen Sengun outduels Nikola Jokic as Rockets blast Nuggets

“I thought Alpi had the best defensive game of his career,” Stephen Silas says of Alperen Sengun’s night versus Nikola Jokic and Denver. “He did an amazing job. I was proud of him.” #Rockets

As a talented European big man, Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun has drawn a few wishful comparisons during his first two NBA seasons to back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets. After his rookie season, Sengun referred to Denver’s big man as an idol.

For at least one night, though, the student became the teacher. In Tuesday’s shocking blowout win against the first-place Nuggets, the 20-year-old Turkish prospect had 20 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals on 7-of-14 shooting (50.0% FG).

Meanwhile, Jokic (14 points, 10 rebounds) was forced into eight turnovers in 25 minutes as the Rockets (20-60) pulled away late for a feel-good victory over the Nuggets (53-26). It was Houston’s final home game of the 2022-23 season.

“I thought Alpi had the best defensive game of his career tonight,” Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said postgame of Sengun. “He did an amazing job. I was proud of him.”

“I just need to be focused,” Sengun told AT&T SportsNet Southwest’s Vanessa Richardson of his defense. “I understand that when I want to do defense, really hard, I can be good. It’s going to be a big year, next year. I’m going to do my best all the time.”

Scroll on for further highlights, interviews, and analysis.

In 32-point outburst, Jalen Green takes over late as Rockets shock Nuggets

Jalen Green (+27 in 39 minutes) bounced back from a bad third quarter with a dominant fourth as the #Rockets upset Denver in their home finale. “He can really, really score,” Stephen Silas says.

HOUSTON — In their final home game of their 2022-23 season, the young and rebuilding Rockets (20-60) pulled off perhaps their best win to date in Tuesday’s 124-103 blowout (box score) of Denver. The Nuggets (53-26) hold the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

The Rockets were led by second-year guard Jalen Green, who had 32 points on 12-of-27 shooting (44.4%) while going 4-of-8 from 3-point range (50.0%). After missing all seven of his shots in the third quarter and picking up a technical due to his frustration with not getting calls from officials, Green responded with 16 points and 4 assists in a dominant fourth quarter as Houston pulled away.

“The shots weren’t falling, he wasn’t as efficient as he’s been lately, but he didn’t stop,” head coach Stephen Silas said postgame. “He didn’t let that deter him. He stayed within his game. He can really, really score, and once he gets it going, it’s usually pretty good for us.”

The Rockets were a team-best +27 in Green’s minutes, and the 21-year-old was focused postgame on the result. Despite having one of the NBA’s worst records, the Rockets have defeated each of the top four teams (Milwaukee, Boston, Philadelphia, and Denver) by record.

“A bunch of our wins are against the best in the NBA right now,” Green said. “That’s when we play at our best. That’s hope for the future.”

Playing against back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic (14 points, 10 rebounds, 8 turnovers), young Rockets center Alperen Sengun (20 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists) had a fourth straight double-double in a performance that Silas called the best of his career on defense.

Rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. (16 points, 13 rebounds) had a double-double for the Rockets, as well, while Kevin Porter Jr. had 20 points to go with a team-high five 3-pointers and 9 assists.

Scroll on for highlights, postgame interviews with players and head coach Stephen Silas, and reaction from Houston fans and media members. The Rockets close out their 2022-23 schedule with road games on Friday and Sunday versus Charlotte and Washington.

Nuggets at Rockets: Tuesday’s lineups, injury reports, broadcast and stream info

The #Rockets host their final home game of the 2022-23 season on Tuesday night versus Denver, which could be without reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.

As expected, the 2022-23 season has been another long and often frustrating campaign for the rebuilding Houston Rockets, who appear poised to finish with one of the NBA’s two worst records for a third straight year. But there have been some bright spots of late within the team’s friendly downtown confines of Toyota Center.

The Rockets are a much more respectable 13-27 (.325) at home entering Tuesday’s home finale, including four wins in their last seven matchups. Now, as the No. 1 seed in the entire Western Conference comes to town, can the young Rockets pull off one more upset to build momentum heading into a critical 2023 offseason?

One angle that might help the Rockets is the uncertain status of back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. The superstar big man has missed the last three games for Denver, which is listing him as questionable to play in Houston due to right calf tightness.

With four games left in the regular season, the Nuggets have a three-game cushion relative to No. 2 Memphis as they attempt to secure the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the West’s 2023 playoffs. Thus, they do have some standings buffer and can be conservative with Jokic’s usage, if they feel the need to do so.

Then again, if Jokic wants to make another MVP push, a chance to put up big numbers versus a young Houston squad and second-year center Alperen Sengun could potentially help his case.

As wins mount, Stephen Silas sees young Rockets building consistency

“I’m seeing some consistency as far as where the ball needs to get, when it needs to get there, and who we are as a team,” says Stephen Silas, whose #Rockets are 4-3 in their last seven games.

HOUSTON — In early March, when the Rockets were coming off their second losing streak of the season lasting more than 10 games, players and coaches knew that something had to change.

In a three-game span, they had given a career-high 71 points to Damian Lillard; watched MVP frontrunner Nikola Jokic get his 100th triple-double of his career; and allowed Memphis to break its eight-game road losing streak (before the Grizzlies had lost Ja Morant).

The Rockets were reeling fast, and they needed something to help lift the morale and spirit of the team. Despite their record, they believed they were not what the 11-game losing streak and those personal milestones by opposing players portrayed them to be.

With back-to-back games versus San Antonio, another rebuilding team that is going through rough times in the 2022-23 NBA season, the Rockets knew they needed to win at least one of those games to salvage some hope for the remainder of the league year.

Houston went on to win both games, leading to its first winning streak in over a month. It may not have seemed like much, but that winning feeling helped build some morale and chemistry in the locker room for a team whose oldest starter is 22 years old. That exuberating feeling didn’t last long, as they dropped their next three games, but those losses were learning lessons and teachable moments.

They learned that they could compete with teams fighting for either playoff positioning or to make the playoffs. After blowing a late lad versus Chicago to open a six-game homestand, Houston knew the road would not get easier with the Celtics and Lakers coming to town. Most fans did not see those as winnable games, but head coach Stephen Silas and his staff knew they needed patience.

“It takes time,” Silas said after Saturday’s loss to Chicago.

The coach’s patience paid off over the next two games, as he watched his young core of players grow up. On Monday, the Rockets defeated defending Eastern Conference champions, and they followed that up with a convincing win over short-handed Los Angeles two nights later. With the wins, Houston is now 4-3 in its last seven games.

“I am seeing some consistency amongst our group,” Silas said after Wednesday’s 114-110 win by the Rockets. “I am seeing some consistency, as far as where the ball needs to get and when it needs to get there, and who we are as a team.”

Third-year forward KJ Martin, who is averaging 16.1 points and 5.8 rebounds over his last eight games, has witnessed the change in himself and his teammates. He knows many of these opponents may have overlooked the Rockets because of their 17-52 record.

“It is always good to go out and win,” Martin told reporters during his postgame press conference after defeating the Lakers. “The Lakers have been rolling, trying to get into the playoffs. The Celtics are the number two team in the East, so it is always good to get wins against teams, especially playoff teams.”

“They’re trying to make sure they get their seeding in the playoffs or the play-in game,” Martin said. “The Celtics, if they lose every game for the rest of the year, they are still going to be in the playoffs. They went to the Finals last year. It was good competition.”

The road doesn’t get any easier for Houston over its next three games as they prepare to host the New Orleans Pelicans — a team that is one game out of the play-in tournament — in back-to-back games. From there, they will wrap up this six-game homestand with a matchup against the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors, who are currently sixth in the Western Conference standings.

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Nuggets at Rockets: Tuesday’s lineups, injury reports, broadcast and stream info

As the #Rockets finally return home, key reinforcements are on the way. Jalen Green (left groin strain) is back in the lineup, while Kevin Porter Jr. (left foot contusion) is questionable.

Tuesday night will mark the first time in nearly three weeks the young and rebuilding Houston Rockets will play in the friendly home confines of Toyota Center after completing an extended road trip that spanned both sides of the All-Star break.

The bad news is back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, whose Denver Nuggets own the best record in the Western Conference by more than five games, will be waiting for them.

If there’s any consolation for the struggling Rockets, who enter with nine straight losses, it’s that reinforcements are on the way. They’ve been without their usual starting backcourt of Kevin Porter Jr. (left foot contusion) and Jalen Green (left groin strain) in recent days, but Green is expected to return Tuesday and Porter could, as well.

However, because the Rockets are on a back-to-back and will play again on Wednesday versus Memphis (also at home), it’s possible they could be conservative in using any recently injured players. For example, Jae’Sean Tate is out due to right ankle injury maintenance.

Timberwolves sing praises of Alperen Sengun after playing Rockets

“Me personally, I think they need to build around number 28,” Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards tells @BigSargeSportz. “That dude is something serious. We had to game plan for him.” #Rockets

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun is becoming a player who shows up on the radar of opposing NBA teams. In his second year, the Turkish-born player is garnering praise from many elites.

“I think he’s really talented,” reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic said earlier this year. “Maybe this is going to sound weird, but I think they need to play a little bit more through him. This guy has the talent. He can pass the ball, He can post up, and he has the touch around the rim. You can see some different moves that he’s made.”

Jokic’s statements echoed those of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo after a game against the Rockets in December 2021 — when Sengun was in the first two months of his career as a rookie:

He’s a good player. He takes his time; nothing can speed him up. He might be slow in the post, but he’s effective. He’s playing well. He’s playing a lot of minutes off the bench and gives energy to his teammates. He rebounds the ball well. He’s being aggressive and sets good screens. I think the sky’s the limit for him.

Although Houston’s 10-30 record is not where the team wants it, Sengun has made himself a staple in the Rockets’ offense by averaging 14.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 26.6 minutes to go along with 11 double-doubles. Sengun is shooting 54.9%, and his true shooting percentage is an impressive 60.5% this season.

Opposing coaches have to account for his whereabouts, which opens the floor for his teammates.

“Me personally, I think they need to build around No. 28 (Sengun), Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards told Rockets Wire after playing against Houston on Sunday. “Jalen (Green) and KPJ (Kevin Porter Jr.) are franchise players also, but that dude is something serious. We had to game plan for him.”

Three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert also acknowledged how much of a force Sengun is becoming.

“He has been getting better and better,” said Gobert, a fellow European big man who watched Sengun play internationally before coming to the NBA. “I think he is very unique in the way that he plays. The way that he is finishing. Last year he was turning the ball over more, but this year he has gotten a lot better.”

Sengun and the Rockets head to the West Coast for a four-game California road trip. They will face the Sacramento Kings (twice), Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers.

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‘Very difficult’: Rockets look to adapt, learn from blowouts in Denver

#Rockets head coach Stephen Silas on losing twice in Denver: “It is very difficult, especially against a good veteran team that has been together for a long time.”

At 50 feet above sea level, the Houston Rockets look like a basketball team, slowly turning the page and becoming familiar with one another. They put together consecutive wins for the first time in many months versus the Atlanta Hawks and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Elevate them to 5,280 feet, and they appear to be a team is collectively playing together for the first time in a pickup game. The Denver Nuggets defeated the Rockets on Monday and Wednesday nights, and it was a learning lesson that Houston can build on.

One competitive edge the Nuggets have against the Rockets is a veteran team led by two-time NBA MVP (2021, 2022) Nikola Jokić directing the offense. His presence on the court requires a constant double team, as his offensive skillset is among the best in the league regarding scoring and passing. His court vision allows his teammates to continuously move throughout the offense, looking for open shots that usually come around the basket.

In addition to Jokić, the team has two savvy veterans in guard Jamal Murray and forward Aaron Gordon. In those games, they effectively bullied the younger Rockets players while playing their brand of basketball. The combination shot 64.7% from the field.

“It is very difficult, especially against a good veteran team that has been together for a long time,” Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said about competing against the Nuggets. “Their two main guys in Jokić and Murray were the two we had problems with.”

Despite losing twice by an average of 18 points, all was not lost for Houston in their first two games of a four-game road trip. Second-year center Alperen Sengün came into the two-game series knowing he would go up against one of his basketball idols in Jokić. He was looking forward to seeing where his game would match up against the All-Star while seeking tips on where he could improve.

Early foul trouble plagued Sengün in consecutive games as Jokić used his years of experience in the NBA to bait him into unnecessary fouls. With the game out of reach, both players were not matched against one another as much. Sengün averaged 18 points and nine rebounds and was active on both ends of the court against the Nuggets.

“He did a good job,” Silas said of Sengün. “He fought hard on the offensive end and did a lot of good things on the defensive end. “It is just a hard cover because Jokić is crafty, he is big, and when he misses, he gets his own rebound. He makes every play. Al-P (Alperen) tried his hardest and did a good job, but that is the MVP (Jokić) performance that we saw.”

Houston (5-16) now travels from the “Mile High City” to Phoenix, where they will face a Suns (15-6) squad with the top record in the Western Conference. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. Central on Friday.

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‘Disappointed’: Rockets blasted from opening tipoff by Jamal Murray, Nuggets

#Rockets coach Stephen Silas on Wednesday’s blowout loss at Denver: “You can’t ease into these games. You’ve got to come in with a defensive mindset, a hard-play mindset, together.”

In a game that wasn’t competitive from the opening tipoff, the young and rebuilding Rockets were no match for the Western Conference’s second-best team in Wednesday’s 120-100 loss (box score) at the Denver Nuggets.

Alperen Sengun led Houston (5-16) with 18 points and 11 rebounds in 29 minutes, shooting 8-of-12 (66.7%) overall.

Jamal Murray led Denver (14-7) with 26 points in 31 minutes on 9-of-15 shooting (60.0%), including 4-of-6 on 3-pointers (66.7%). Back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic added 17 points, 9 rebounds and a game-high 12 assists, shooting 7-of-9 from the field (77.8%).

“I was disappointed with how we began the game,” said head coach Stephen Silas, whose team was outscored in an overwhelming first quarter, 44-24. “Against teams like this, you can’t ease into these games. You’ve got to come in with a defensive mindset, a hard-play mindset, a together mindset. We were even the rest of the game, but when you start like that, it’s hard to win.”

Kevin Porter Jr. had a team-high 23 points and 5 assists for the Rockets, making 5-of-7 from 3-point range (71,4%). However, he made only 3-of-11 (27.3%) from inside the arc. Jalen Green had 16 points on just 6-of-16 shooting (37.5%) and 1-of-7 on 3-pointers (14.3%).

Rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. continued his recent shooting surge with 13 points, making 3-of-6 from 3-point range (50%).

Read on for highlights, analysis and postgame interviews from Denver. Houston finishes its four-game Western Conference road trip with a tough back-to-back on Friday and Saturday at Phoenix and Golden State. Tipoffs are at 8 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively.

Rockets at Nuggets: Wednesday’s lineups, injury reports, broadcast and stream info

Nikola Jokic thinks the #Rockets should play through Alperen Sengun more on offense. Will Stephen Silas follow that unsolicited advice in Wednesday’s rematch with the Nuggets?

In only 23 minutes played, second-year Rockets center Alperen Sengun led Houston in points (18) and rebounds (7) in Monday’s loss at Denver. Superstar Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic, who predictably had a game-high 32 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, said in postgame comments that he believes Sengun — who looks up to Jokic, a fellow European center, as an idol — is capable of even more.

“I think they need to play a little bit more through him,” Jokic, a back-to-back NBA MVP, said of Sengun and the Rockets. “Sometimes they look a little bit more stagnant… with all their 3s. This guy has the talent. He can pass the ball, He can post up, he has the touch around the rim. You can see some different moves that he’s made.”

Will head coach Stephen Silas take the unsolicited advice in Wednesday’s rematch between the teams? We’ll soon find out.

One reason Sengun’s minutes were reduced is because Houston sat most of its starters in the fourth quarter, once the game appeared out of reach. After playing competitively for a half, the Rockets appeared to run out of steam in the second half on what was their third game in four nights and the first this season at Denver’s high altitude.

On Wednesday, Houston’s young team should be more rested, and perhaps more acclimated to the altitude factors, as well.

Nikola Jokic thinks Rockets should run more offense through Alperen Sengun

Nikola Jokic on #Rockets center Alperen Sengun: “This guy has the talent. I think they need to play a little bit more through him. Sometimes they look a little bit more stagnant.”

In a battle of international big men, second-year Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun lost the battle in Monday’s game against the Denver Nuggets and back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.

But with 18 points (50% FG) and 7 rebounds in 23 minutes, which continues a strong offensive season to date, Sengun clearly made an impression on the Serbian center, who finished with 32 points (64.7% FG), 12 rebounds and 8 assists in just 27 minutes.

In postgame comments, Jokic made it clear he believes head coach Stephen Silas and the Rockets should be running more of their offense through the 20-year-old Turkish prospect.

Here’s what the Denver big man said after being informed that Sengun (who looks at Jokic as an idol) models his game after Jokic:

I think he’s really talented. Maybe this is going to sound weird, but I think they need to play a little bit more through him. Sometimes they look a little bit more stagnant… with all their 3s.

This guy has the talent. He can pass the ball, He can post up, he has the touch around the rim. You can see some different moves that he’s made.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3gTT4ZFI7qw

Sengun had 14 shot attempts in just 23 minutes during Monday’s loss, though almost none of Houston’s starters played in the fourth quarter due to the lopsided score. The Rockets shot 44 3-pointers as a team.

It will not take long to see if Silas and the Rockets adjust their game plan. The teams meet again on Wednesday in Denver. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Central.

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