THE Houston Rockets won nine straight games to get back into the playoff picture. And they could use a big boost before the end of the season.
On “The Hoop Collective With Brian Windhorst,” ESPN’s Tim McMahon said there was “a very real chance” that the injured center Alperen Sengun could return at the end of the regular season. Sengun suffered a severe ankle sprain and a bone bruise two weeks ago that forced him to leave Houston’s game against the Sacramento Kings in a wheelchair. For many, including his team, Sengun’s fantastic season was over.
But Houston kept winning. The game in which Sengun lost was the second in the Rockets’ current nine-game winning streak. They are now a half-game behind the Golden State Warriors for 10th place. Not only are the Rockets winning, but they are doing so emphatically with an average margin of victory of 15 points.
Now, Sengun travels and, according to his trainer, Ime Udoka, mainly does “treatment and rehabilitation.”
With three weeks until the play-in tournament, it’s likely Udoka will field more questions about the status of his big point guard. Houston could use his 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and five assists, at unless they fear disrupting the team’s hot streak.
Rookie Amen Thompson has been great as small ball center in Sengun’s absence, averaging 15.7 points and 9.3 rebounds in his last six games and a 62 percent success rate.
Even in limited minutes, Sengun could be a huge boost, especially if the Rockets were facing the Los Angeles Lakers and their oversized frontcourt of Anthony Davis and LeBron James. For a Rockets team that hasn’t needed much help to dominate recently, a returning Sengun could help them gain the upper hand against an experienced playoff opponent.
