Alperen Sengun will attempt to continue a dominating three-game run Friday when the Houston Rockets visit the Portland Trail Blazers.
The injury riddled Trail Blazers have lost 11 of their past 13 games and may not have big man Deandre Ayton (sprained wrist) to defend Sengun. Ayton has missed the past four games.
Sengun is averaging 29.7 points, 15 rebounds and 6.3 assists during the span, including a career-high 45-point outing in a 114-101 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. He followed up with 23 points, a season-high 19 rebounds and a career-best 14 assists in Wednesday’s 122-116 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The 21-year-old Sengun leads the Rockets in scoring (21.3) and rebounding (9.4).
The Turkish product began the splurge with 23 points and 10 rebounds in a 118-109 win over the Phoenix Suns on March 2.
But make no mistake, the huge effort against the Spurs that also included 16 rebounds and a career-best five steals is the highlight of the stretch.
That’s because the third-year pro dominated rookie Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 overall pick of San Antonio.
“He’s so tall but he’s not that strong yet,” Sengün said of the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama. “I was going at his chest and putting him under the rim.”
Despite the big performance against the Clippers, Sengun wasn’t able to lead his team to victory. Houston led by as many as 20 points before Los Angeles rallied to win.
The Clippers scored 78 points in the second half after having just 44 in the first half.
“We guarded well in the first half and didn’t in the second half,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “Credit to them because they do have three really good scorers that can get it going, but you’d like to have a little more resistance or consistency between the two halves.”
Portland will be aiming for its fifth straight win over the Rockets. The Trail Blazers recorded a 137-131 overtime win on Jan. 24 in Houston. Anfernee Simons scored 33 for Portland and Sengun had 30 for the Rockets.
Portland lost 128-120 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday in the opener of a six-game homestand.
Playing at home doesn’t equate to victories as the Trail Blazers have dropped eight straight in Portland, including all seven of a February homestand.
With his team bothered by injuries, Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was pleased with the effort against Oklahoma City.
“I just thought we came out and we played this team really well, for the second time,” Billups said.
“No matter who plays, we play the right way. … And that’s what I want to happen.”
Simons scored 29 points for Portland to fall one shy of his third straight 30-point outing. He has made 14 3-pointers during the stretch.
Billups said that rookie point guard Scoot Henderson (sprained foot), out the past seven games, could return this weekend. If not against the Rockets, then possibly Saturday against the Toronto Raptors.
Standout defender Matisse Thybulle provided a lift against Oklahoma City with a season-high 16 points. He added three steals to raise his career total to 500.
“It started when I was young,” Thybulle said of racking up steals. “When I was young, I had a knack for it so coaches put me in positions to be that guy. … And I was really encouraged by my dad and my coaches to be a defensive player and make an impact on that end.
“You put a lifetime of basketball in with that mentality and I guess (500 steals) is what you get.”
–Field Level Media