Alperen Sengun reflected on Houston’s 128-125 overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets Monday night, emphasizing his focus against Nikola Jokic.
“I didn’t do a good job last game against him, so I was more focused this game,” Sengun said, highlighting his determination to compete physically throughout the matchup.
Sengun acknowledged the challenge of guarding Jokic and Jamal Murray, noting the difficulty of avoiding fouls while contesting elite scorers. “He’s amazing… trying to be solid in every position and do the best we can,” he said, referring to Jokic’s versatility and offensive dominance.
The Rockets center praised Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr.’s defensive contributions, especially Smith’s weak-side block on Jokic. “He got my wrench to actually dunk on us last game, so not this time. It was a great defense by him,” Sengun said, highlighting teamwork in limiting Denver’s efficiency.
Sengun also addressed the nickname “Baby Jokic,” a comparison made due to his similar skill set. “It was cool to hear… but I’m on my own way. I’m leading one of the best teams in the league,” he said, signaling his intent to forge his own identity in the NBA.
Despite Houston shooting 51 percent from the field and 48 percent from three-point range, the team struggled to close in overtime. Sengun himself finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, marking his first triple-double of the season.
He emphasized the importance of matching Denver’s physicality. “We play physical too… we match their physical,” Sengun said, underscoring Houston’s effort to compete against the Nuggets’ high-level execution.
MORE FOR YOU
Sengun also recognized the team’s challenges in limiting Jokic’s touches. “A guy like Jokic gets the ball just about every possession… you can’t touch him at the same time, so he gets fouls every time,” he explained, showing an understanding of how elite players dictate the game.
Looking ahead, Sengun remains focused on growth and team success. “Eventually, it’s going to change… I’m on my own way,” he said, signaling his commitment to evolving as a leader for Houston despite setbacks.
The Rockets dropped to 10-17 on the season and have now lost three straight road games. Houston travels to New Orleans on Thursday to face the Pelicans, while Denver returns home to host the Orlando Magic.
