Top rookie Victor Wembanyama is the NBA’s 2023-24 Rookie of the Year frontrunner and considered by most to be a generational talent. But in Houston’s 13-point victory over San Antonio on Tuesday, Rockets big man Alperen Sengun won the battle.
Sengun went for a career-high 45 points, 16 rebounds and 5 steals against Wembanyama and the Spurs, with many coming in head-to-head matchups against the French phenom.
In postgame commentary, Sengun made it clear it was all by design. Regarding Wembanyama, the third-year Turkish veteran said (in comments captured by Rockets Wire’s Brian Barefield):
He’s really tall, but he’s not that strong yet, so I was going into his chest and put him under the rim. They didn’t double (team) me tonight that much, so I worked under the rim.
With that performance, Sengun became the sixth NBA player in the last 40 years (since the 1983-84 season) to post a statistics line of at least 45 points, 15 rebounds and 5 steals in a single game.
“He is tall, but he isn’t that strong yet,”said Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun about playing against Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. “I was in his chest and put him under the rim.” #Rockets #Sarge @TheRocketsWire pic.twitter.com/EluYjIihYl
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) March 6, 2024
Naturally, in the postgame locker room, Sengun gave much of the credit to teammates — and especially veteran guard Fred VanVleet.
“I just played my way, and Fred was looking for me all night,” Şengün said, via Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
“Usually … other teams are closing our pick-and-rolls,” Sengun added. “You know, Fred and I (have) been great this year in the pick-and-roll. They didn’t close that much. He found me.”
VanVleet finished with 21 points and 10 assists, with seven of those going to sengun. He also made 5-of-9 shots from 3-point range (55.6%).
Head coach Ime Udoka also credited teammate Dillon Brooks with successfully defending Wembanyama, who shot just 4-of-10 overall (40.0%) and didn’t score in the second half. That likely played a key role in Sengun being able to conserve energy for the offensive end.
Sengun and VanVleet will look to keep their momentum rolling when they host James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers in another home game at Toyota Center on Wednesday night. Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. Central, and this one will be televised nationally on ESPN.
Houston (27-34) is 21-10 at home this season.
A CAREER NIGHT FOR ALPEREN SENGUN 👏
🚀 45 PTS (career high)
🚀 19-32 FGM
🚀 16 REB
🚀 5 STL pic.twitter.com/dDzo76vvF4— NBA (@NBA) March 6, 2024
