dailyloe.com – Alperen Sengun led the Houston Rockets to a decisive 134-102 road victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night. The Turkish center delivered a stellar performance with 36 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. This win improved Houston’s record to 45-29 this season.
The Rockets seized control with a dominant 23-3 run to open the second quarter. Sengun scored 14 points in that period alone, hitting three three-pointers. Houston took a commanding 68-47 lead into halftime and never looked back.
Sengun was remarkably efficient, making five of his seven attempts from beyond the arc. He also contributed three steals and three blocks in a complete two-way effort. This marked his third 30-point game in his last four outings.
Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. provided strong support, each scoring 20 points for the Rockets. Tari Eason added 15 points off the bench. The team’s ball security was exceptional, committing only six turnovers.
Houston dominated the glass, outrebounding New Orleans by a significant 59-36 margin. They led by double digits throughout the entire second half. The victory moved them into a tie for fifth place in the competitive Western Conference.
For the struggling Pelicans, Dejounte Murray led the way with 19 points. Zion Williamson and Saddiq Bey each scored 18 points in the loss. New Orleans has now lost three consecutive games to Houston this season.
The Pelicans’ record fell to 25-51 with this defeat. They have lost 11 of their last 12 games overall. Rookie Jeremiah Fears scored 12 points in the losing effort.
This result tightens the playoff race in the NBA’s Western Conference. Houston now shares fifth place with the idle Minnesota Timberwolves. They trail the Denver Nuggets by just one and a half games.[]
Source: ESPN
