Rockets Dominate Wizards for Fourth Win in Five Games
Houston Players Shine in 107-92 Victory
In a decisive matchup on Monday night, Alperen Sengun led the Houston Rockets with an impressive 27 points and 17 rebounds, guiding his team to a 107-92 triumph over the Washington Wizards. This victory marked Sengun’s second consecutive game with 27 points, showcasing his growing prowess on the court. He was efficient shooting, hitting 12 of his 19 attempts from the field, and also recorded three blocks in the contest.
Supporting Sengun’s performance, Jalen Green contributed with 18 points, while Amen Thompson scored 13. Both Jabari Smith Jr. and Aaron Holiday chipped in with 11 points each. The absence of Fred VanVleet, who is dealing with a day-to-day hamstring injury according to head coach Ime Udoka, opened the door for rookie Reed Sheppard and Holiday to receive extended minutes. Sheppard made the most of his opportunity, matching his career high with seven points.
On the opposing side, Kyle Kuzma made his return for Washington after sitting out five games due to a right groin strain. He led the Wizards’ scoring with 18 points, having a 7-for-18 shooting night in 24 minutes. Jordan Poole added 11 points but struggled with ball control, racking up eight turnovers throughout the game.
Houston established dominance early, leading 55-40 at halftime and maintaining control throughout the game, never relinquishing their lead. With this victory, the Rockets have now won four out of their last five games, improving their overall record to 7-4, which is their best start in 11 games since the 2019-20 season. Conversely, the Wizards are experiencing a rough patch, having lost five games in a row.
Analyzing the game, it is worth noting that Washington was significantly outrebounded, with the Rockets claiming a 58-34 advantage on the boards. This trend has continued for the Wizards, who have not managed to out-rebound their opponents in any of their nine games this season. Jonas Valanciunas was the team’s leading rebounder with eight boards, while rookie Alexandre Sarr collected six.
For the Rockets, Sengun’s recent back-to-back 20-point games mark a notable achievement for him, paralleling his impressive breakout season from last year when he averaged 21.1 points per game. Getting Sengun involved early and often appears to be a crucial strategy for Houston as they look to build momentum this season.
A pivotal moment in the match occurred late in the second quarter when the Rockets executed a 10-0 run, propelling a five-point lead to a comfortable 15-point advantage that set the stage for their victory.
A critical statistic from the game reveals that the Wizards struggled at the free-throw line, converting just one of four attempts in the first half. They finished the game with a season-low performance of 9 out of 13 free throws, while Houston excelled at the charity stripe, hitting 22 of their 25 attempts.
As they move forward, the Wizards are set to face the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, while the Rockets will host the Los Angeles Clippers in their next outing.