Rockets' Alperen Sengun: Unlikely to play this week
Rotowire
Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said Tuesday that Sengun (ankle) is "unlikely" to play in the final week of the regular season, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Sengun hasn't played since suffering a significant right ankle sprain March 10, and though the Rockets initially held out hope that the big man could be back for the tail end of the regular season if a spot in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament was realistic, he'll remain shut down with Houston out of contention. Jabari Smith should continue to start at center the rest of the way, while Dillon Brooks and Amen Thompson retain starting roles at the forward spot. Sengun will wrap up his third NBA season with averages of 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.7 blocks and 0.5 three-pointers in 32.5 minutes per game over 63 appearances.
Rockets' Alperen Sengun: Likely out for regular season
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Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Tuesday that Sengun (ankle) has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 right ankle sprain, as well as a bone bruise in his right knee, and will likely miss the remainder of the regular season.
Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday that Sengun would need to show significant healing to have a realistic shot at playing again this season, so Charania's update isn't surprising. With Houston falling behind in the race for the 10th seed, the promising young center probably won't push to return over the final weeks, especially considering he's up for a max extension this offseason. Sengun was playing the best basketball of his career before suffering the injury, averaging 27.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 2.5 steals and 0.8 blocks in 36.0 minutes over his previous four appearances. In his absence, Jock Landale would seem to be the top candidate to join the starting five if the Rockets want a traditional center, though it's possible Jabari Smith and Jeff Green could see plenty of playing time as small-ball options at the five.
Rockets' Alperen Sengun: Avoids major injury, will miss time
Rotowire
Sengun was diagnosed Monday with a severe right ankle sprain and a bone bruise in his right knee after exiting Sunday's 112-104 win over the Kings and undergoing X-rays and an MRI, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
Wojnarowski notes that Sengun will miss extended time, and while he hasn't been ruled out for the rest of the regular season, the center would need to show significant healing to have a realistic shot at playing in the Rockets' April 14 finale against the Clippers. Though the injury likely makes it tough for fantasy managers in redraft leagues to justify holding Sengun, the diagnosis comes as a welcome development for the Rockets, who may have feared that the center's absence would extend into the 2024-25 season after he needed to be carted off the floor Sunday in a wheelchair. The big man was playing the best basketball of his young career before suffering the injury, averaging 27.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 2.5 steals and 0.8 blocks in 36.0 minutes over his previous four appearances. In Sengun's absence, Jock Landale would seem to be the top candidate to ascend to the starting five if the Rockets want a traditional center on the top unit, though it's possible that Jabari Smith and Jeff Green could see plenty of run as small-ball options at the five.
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Rockets' Alperen Sengun: Leaves game in wheelchair
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Sengun required assistance of the court with a wheelchair during Sunday's 112-104 win over the Kings after sustaining a right lower leg injury in the final minute of the fourth quarter, Jackson Gatlin of the Locked On Podcast Network reports. He posted 14 points (7-14 FG, 0-2 FT), six rebounds, two assists and two steals in 29 minutes prior to his departure.
Sengun appeared to land awkwardly on his leg while attempting to contest a Domantas Sabonis transition layup late in regulation. He'll undergo an MRI on Monday to further examine both his right knee and ankle, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. It's too early to speculate as to how much time Sengun could miss, but fantasy managers should be prepared to be without the big man for at least the week ahead, if not longer.
Sengun supplied 23 points (10-19 FG, 3-8 FT), 19 rebounds, 14 assists and two steals across 42 minutes during Wednesday's 122-116 loss to the Clippers.
Sengun led all players in Wednesday's contest in rebounds and assists while tallying a team-best point total in one of his best outings of the season. Sengun handed out a season-high assist total while hauling in a season-best rebound mark in his second triple-double of the year.
Rockets' Alperen Sengun: Erupts for career-best 45 points
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Sengun finished Tuesday's 114-101 win over the Spurs with 45 points (19-32 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 5-7 FT), 16 rebounds, three assists, one block and five steals in 37 minutes.
The 21-year-old center became the youngest player in NBA history -- or at least since steals became an official stat in 1973-74 -- to record at least 45 points, 15 boards and five steals in the same game, joining an exclusive club that includes James Harden, Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis. The points and steals were also career highs for Sengun, while the 16 rebounds were a season high. The double-double was his 28th of the campaign, leaving him one short of tying the career-high 29 he set last season.
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Rockets' Alperen Sengun: Strong two-way play in win
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Sengun finished Saturday's 118-109 win over the Suns with 21 points (9-21 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 10 rebounds, two assists, one block and two steals in 33 minutes.
Jalen Green led the Rockets in scoring and Fred VanVleet posted one of his best games in recent weeks, so Sengun took somewhat of a back seat in this one. However, the fact he still posted a double-double while contributing defensively without being the focal point of the team shows how much he can impact the box score regularly. Sengun has been Houston's top fantasy performer by a wide margin this season, and the numbers should continue to back that assessment up.
