Sengun’s 29 Points Lead Rockets Past Hawks in Houston

A Dominant First Half Sets the Tone

The Houston Rockets established control early, leveraging a balanced offensive attack to take an 8-point lead into halftime. The home team outscored the visitors 64-56 in the opening two quarters, building a cushion that would prove insurmountable despite Atlanta’s second-half efforts. Houston’s offense flowed through its frontcourt, with Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. combining for significant early production.

The Rockets opened the scoring on an alley-oop dunk by Amen Thompson, assisted by Sengun. Smith Jr. followed with a running dunk, giving Houston an early 4-0 advantage. Atlanta responded with points from Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, but Sengun answered with a 26-foot three-pointer. The quarter ended with the Rockets leading 35-32 after Kingston Flemings drove to the basket for the Hawks.

In the second quarter, Houston maintained its momentum. Jock Landale’s floating jump shot and free throw gave Atlanta a brief 38-38 tie, but the Rockets quickly regained control. Reed Sheppard and Alperen Sengun kept the score close in the middle of the quarter, yet Kevin Durant’s layup briefly tied the game at 41-41.

Houston pulled away again with three-pointers from Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Aaron Wiggins. By halftime, the Rockets led 64-56, thanks to efficient shooting and timely scoring from their key contributors.

The Third Quarter Tightens the Game

The third quarter saw Atlanta narrow the gap, outscoring Houston 28-19 in the period. Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu led the Hawks’ comeback, with Johnson scoring 21 points on the night. Kevin Durant also played a crucial role for Atlanta, hitting multiple free throws and a three-pointer to keep the Hawks within striking distance.

Sengun continued to anchor Houston’s offense, finishing with 29 points and nine assists. His ability to score inside and distribute to teammates like Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. kept the Rockets competitive. Despite Atlanta’s surge, Houston held on to lead 85-80 entering the final period.

Closing Strong in the Fourth

The fourth quarter was a showcase of Houston’s depth and execution. The Rockets extended their lead with key baskets from Luguentz Dort and Fred VanVleet. Smith Jr. added 12 rebounds for Houston, helping secure the board position. Reed Sheppard hit a critical three-pointer, and Amen Thompson closed out the game with an alley-oop layup.

The final score stood at 120-110, with the Rockets improving their record to 4-0. The Hawks fell to 2-2 on the season. The victory highlighted Houston’s resilience and offensive versatility, while Atlanta’s effort, led by Johnson’s 21 points and Landale’s four assists, kept the game competitive until the end.

Sources

ESPN