Alperen Sengun’s career-high 37 points and commanding 14 rebounds propelled the Houston Rockets (20-21) to a thrilling 127-126 victory over the Utah Jazz (22-22) on Saturday night.
Sengun, delivering a stellar performance, missed two free throws with 8.1 seconds left in overtime, adding suspense to the game’s final moments.
Utah’s Jordan Clarkson’s mid-range jumper missed in the closing seconds, allowing Houston to clinch the win and break a three-game losing streak.
The decisive moment came when Jabari Smith Jr. (24 points) made a crucial free throw with 36.4 seconds remaining in overtime, giving Houston a slim 127-126 lead. Amen Thompson’s impressive block at the rim denied Collin Sexton’s potential go-ahead layup, securing the Rockets’ victory.
Fred VanVleet added 18 points, seven assists and five rebounds, while Cam Whitmore scored 17 points and grabbed five rebounds off the bench for the Rockets.
Jordan Clarkson led Utah with 33 points off the bench, complemented by Collin Sexton’s 28 points and Lauri Markkanen’s 22 points.
