HOUSTON — Alperen Sengun shone brightly with an impressive performance, netting 25 points and securing 14 rebounds, leading the Houston Rockets to a solid 109-97 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday evening.
Houston started strong, establishing a 15-point lead, but the Knicks managed to narrow the gap to just one point late in the fourth quarter. Sengun, who faced off against Karl-Anthony Towns, stepped up in the crucial moments by scoring 10 points during the final period to ensure the win for the Rockets.
Fred VanVleet contributed significantly by adding 19 points to the team’s total, while Jalen Green supported with 15 points.
On the Knicks’ side, Jalen Brunson led the scoring efforts with 29 points, and OG Anunoby chipped in with 21 points. Towns also made an impact with 17 points and a season-high 19 rebounds.
**Key Observations**
The Knicks need to focus on improving their inside scoring, particularly with Towns on the court. They suffered a striking disadvantage in points scored in the paint, being outscored 62-38, which contributed to the end of their two-game winning streak.
For the Rockets, it was a positive night in terms of offensive engagement, as four starters reached double digits in scoring, while Amen Thompson provided 12 points from the bench. However, consistency over the course of the game remains a challenge; they had previously allowed a significant deficit, trailing by 31 points against the Warriors before losing in overtime just days earlier.
**Crucial Moment**
With less than a minute left and the Rockets leading by three, Thompson executed a spectacular two-handed dunk, followed swiftly by a three-pointer from Green, pushing the score to 105-97 and sealing the game.
**Notable Statistic**
Despite their victory, the Rockets struggled with their three-point shooting, making only 8 of 33 attempts from beyond the arc. Green started the game poorly with no successful shots in his first six attempts, finishing 2 of 8, while VanVleet and Jabari Smith Jr. only converted one of their five tries each.
**Upcoming Matchups**
Looking ahead, the Knicks are set to face the Hawks on Wednesday night, while the Rockets will host the Spurs on the same evening.