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Takeaways: Alperen Sengun bounces back with huge night as Rockets blast short-handed Mavs

ben dubose
·6 min read
1

After hearing some postgame criticism from head coach Ime Udoka following Wednesday’s loss, third-year Houston Rockets big man Alperen Sengun immediately bounced back with one of his best career games in Friday’s 122-96 rout of Dallas (box score).

The Mavericks (16-12) were short-handed, with superstar guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving both sidelined by injury. But it was a needed win for the host Rockets (14-12), who snapped a three-game losing streak and won for the 12th time in 13 games at Toyota Center.

Sengun finished with a team-high 22 points and 15 rebounds for the Rockets in under 25 minutes played, making 8-of-12 shots (66.7%), 1-of-1 from 3-point range, and a perfect 5-of-5 on free throws.

Other noteworthy Rockets performances included:

  • Jabari Smith Jr.: 21 points, 8 rebounds; 8-of-13 shooting (61.5%), 1-of-3 on 3-pointers (33.3%), 4-of-5 on free throws (80.0%)

  • Jalen Green: 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals; 5-of-14 shooting (35.7%), 3-of-7 on 3-pointers (42.9%), 4-of-4 on free throws

  • Cam Whitmore: 14 points, rebounds, 2 steals in 14 minutes; 6-of-12 shooting (50.0%), 1-of-6 on 3-pointers (16.7%)

  • Amen Thompson: 9 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists; 4-of-9 shooting (44.4%)

Whitmore was recalled from the NBA G League earlier in the day. He and fellow rookie Amen Thompson, both drafted in the 2023 first round, each played the entire fourth quarter after Houston grabbed a massive third-quarter lead that ballooned to as large as 38 points.

With Doncic and Irving out, the Mavs were led by 16 points from veteran guard Tim Hardaway Jr. — who was held to just 6-of-20 shooting (30.0%) and 2-of-8 from 3-point range (25.0%).

Here’s our look at highlights and postgame interviews after Friday’s game, along with reaction by media members and fans. Next up for the Rockets is night two of a back-to-back on Saturday night in New Orleans. Tipoff versus the Pelicans (17-12) is at 6:00 p.m. Central.

Dec. 22 Rockets-Mavs reaction

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Story originally appeared on Rockets Wire