With Rockets needing wins, Alperen Sengun battles by means of ankle damage

[ad_1] After spraining his proper ankle on Jan. 3, the Houston Rockets estimated that All-Star middle Alperen Sengun would seemingly miss about two weeks.

As a substitute, he returned to the lineup inside eight days.

Within the 4 video games that Sengun missed (together with the preliminary Dallas sport, the place he left a minute in), Houston misplaced three of them. That’s a bitter capsule to swallow for a group that hopes to contend for an NBA championship this season.

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So, Sengun returned this week, and his 23 factors (55.6% FG), 11 assists, and seven rebounds have been essential in a victory over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night time. That win snapped what had been a three-game shedding streak for the Rockets (23-14).

Previous to Thursday’s dwelling matchup versus defending NBA champion Oklahoma Metropolis, Sengun admitted that he’s nonetheless not absolutely wholesome. However the 23-year-old is targeted on group success, and the Rockets are clearly higher when their star massive man is obtainable.

Amongst his feedback (through Area Metropolis Dwelling Community):

Nonetheless not 100%. However after I’m on the market, I don’t really feel something. I simply really feel the sport, and attempt to win. No matter it takes, I’ll go for it.

It’s not going to be 100% for some time. Twisting an ankle sucks. However I’m getting by means of it. I’ve performed by means of (accidents) all my life, and I’m okay with it. My group is competing over there, and it’s a busy schedule proper now. I can’t simply sit round, if I don’t really feel 100%, and watch them on the market.

I’m simply attempting to get my therapy every single day, engaged on my ft, and really feel as sturdy as I can and go play.

Tipoff between the Rockets and Thunder (34-7) is at 6:30 p.m. Central on Thursday night time, and the sport will likely be televised to a nationwide viewers on Prime Video.

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Houston enters with 12 wins in its final 13 dwelling video games at Toyota Middle.

Tari Eason stays sidelined by his personal proper ankle sprain, which he suffered a couple of days after Sengun’s damage. Josh Okogie has began in Eason’s place throughout current video games.

Sengun, Eason, and Steven Adams all suffered proper ankle sprains in the course of the earlier two-and-a-half weeks, which isn’t optimum timing for this week’s dwelling back-to-back versus the Thunder and Timberwolves — with the latter visiting Houston on Friday night time.

Head coach Ime Udoka hasn’t but mentioned who he expects to be accessible in opposition to Minnesota (27-14), who Houston is trying to chase down within the tightly packed Western Convention standings.