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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Ben DuBose

Takeaways: Alperen Sengun records first triple-double as Rockets’ skid continues

The losing streak for the young Houston Rockets (10-31) is a season-high eight games after Wednesday’s 135-115 loss at Sacramento (box score).

With the first triple-double of his NBA career, second-year center Alperen Sengun became the youngest player in franchise history to record the feat.

Sacramento outscored Houston in the fourth quarter, 41-20, to break open what had been a very competitive game. Kevin Porter Jr. left the game in the first half with a left foot contusion and his prognosis was not immediately clear.

Led by De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, the improving Kings (22-18) have won five of their last eight games as they seek to earn their first berth in the Western Conference playoffs since 2006 — a run of futility that leads the NBA over that span.

Sabonis led the Kings with 25 points (75% FG), 14 rebounds and 9 assists, while Fox tallied 24 points, 9 assists and 1 turnover on 9-of-18 shooting (50%), including 2-of-4 on 3-pointers (50%).

Key statistics for the Rockets in Wednesday’s game included:

  • Jalen Green: 26 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 turnovers, 9-of-25 shooting (36.0%), 3-of-12 on 3-pointers (25.0%), 5-of-7 on free throws (71.4%)
  • Alperen Sengun: 10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 5-of-9 shooting (55.6%)
  • KJ Martin: 21 points, 5 rebounds, 9-of-13 shooting (69.2%), 3-of-7 on 3-pointers (42.9%)
  • Eric Gordon: 19 points, 6-of-12 shooting (50.0%), 3-of-7 on 3-pointers (42.9%)
  • Garrison Mathews: 12 points, 4-of-6 on 3-pointers (66.7%)

Scroll on for highlights, analysis and postgame interview reaction. Next up for Houston, as its four-game West Coast road trip continues, is Friday’s rematch in Sacramento. Tipoff is at 9 p.m. Central.

Highlights

Analysis and Interviews

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