Alperen Sengun delivered a dominant performance with 27 points and 17 rebounds, guiding the Houston Rockets to a 107-92 victory over the Washington Wizards. Sengun, who shot 12-of-19 from the field and recorded three blocks, powered Houston to a solid win, pushing the team’s record to 7-4.
With veteran guard Fred VanVleet sidelined due to a hamstring issue, Houston leaned on their younger players. Rookie Reed Sheppard stepped up with increased playing time, matching his career-high of seven points. Aaron Holiday added 11 points off the bench, contributing to the Rockets’ well-rounded offense.
Washington, missing starting forward Kyle Kuzma for the past five games, welcomed him back. Kuzma returned with a team-high 18 points on 7-of-18 shooting in his 24 minutes of play. Jordan Poole added 11 points but struggled with turnovers, tallying eight as the Wizards dropped their fifth consecutive game to fall to 2-7 this season.
The Rockets built a 55-40 lead by halftime, benefiting from a strong first half and a well-timed 10-0 run in the second quarter that effectively decided the game. They maintained their advantage throughout the second half, preventing any potential comeback attempts by the Wizards.
Jalen Green supported Sengun’s efforts with 18 points, and Amen Thompson added 13 points and eight rebounds. Houston’s strong rebounding was a key factor, as the team grabbed 58 boards compared to Washington’s 34, marking a significant advantage on the glass.
For the Wizards, Kuzma’s return was a positive development, but the team’s struggles with rebounding persisted. Rookie big man Alexandre Sarr contributed six rebounds, and Jonas Valanciunas led Washington’s bench with eight rebounds, yet they were unable to match Houston’s physical presence inside.
Houston’s defense stifled the Wizards’ offensive rhythm, particularly during critical stretches of the game. Washington managed just one free throw in the first half, ending the night 9-of-13 from the line, which was among their lowest free-throw numbers of the season.
Meanwhile, the Rockets were nearly perfect from the charity stripe, hitting 22-of-25 free throws, helping them keep the Wizards at bay.
Despite Poole’s struggles, Washington received some positive contributions from Corey Kispert, who tallied 12 points and made a pair of three-pointers. Carlton Carrington, who recorded ten points and six assists, was also effective, though it wasn’t enough to offset the Rockets’ defensive pressure.
