Alperen Sengun delivered a strong performance, scoring 27 points, including five crucial points in the final minutes, as the Houston Rockets edged the Detroit Pistons 101-99 on Sunday night.
Sengun’s efforts lifted the Rockets to a 6-4 record and capped off a hard-fought victory in a close game that saw late drama.
With the Rockets clinging to a two-point lead and just six seconds on the clock, the Pistons had a chance to tie the game. Detroit guard Cade Cunningham missed a free throw intentionally, leading to an offensive rebound by Jaden Ivey, who also missed his attempt.
Tobias Harris, fouled in the rebound scramble, had an opportunity to tie the game at the line but missed his first free throw. Harris tried to create another chance with a strategic second miss, yet Ivey went out of bounds on the rebound attempt, sealing Detroit’s fate.
The Rockets maintained resilience through a challenging first half, overcoming 18.8% shooting on 3-pointers by securing nine offensive rebounds. Tari Eason contributed significantly, scoring 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter and providing a boost off the bench.
For the Pistons, Cunningham led with 26 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, nearly extending his triple-double streak. Detroit’s comeback efforts in the fourth quarter, including a 16-3 run driven by three 3-pointers from Malik Beasley, put them back in contention after trailing 84-72 early in the quarter.
