SUMMARY
- During the end of the Rockets vs. Kings game, Alperen Sengun injured his right leg after a scary fall.
- Sengun was taken off the court in a wheelchair, but the Rockets managed to secure a victory.
Alperen Sengun has hit a roadblock and he may potentially miss a good sum of games before returning. The 21-year-old has had an impressive season so far. He was in the run to become this year’s Most Improved Player of the Year. In all honesty, if there is anyone who deserves to be named MIP, Sengun stands second to none. His efforts this season have been outstanding and the Rockets have a lot of potential with him as their centerpiece.
The Turkish player has been averaging 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5 assists per game on 53.7% shooting from the field. Sengun is possibly one of the most versatile centers in the league and is someone who closely resembles former MVP Nikola Jokic’s game. The Rockets had a great season start but somehow slipped in the standings. If there was any chance of them making it to the playoffs, it was under Sengun’s leadership.
How did Alperen Sengun injure his leg?
The Houston Rockets recently played against the Sacramento Kings. This was supposed to be a much easier matchup for De’Aaron Fox and his squad, especially after the dominant win they had against the Los Angeles Lakers. However, things fell through after Fox was sidelined, leaving Domantas Sabonis to carry the entire team. It was during the third quarter that the Kings took a major hit, scoring 14 points against the Rockets’ 32.
Prayers up to Alperen Sengun. 🙏
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 11, 2024
Late in the fourth quarter, Alperen Sengun and Domantas Sabonis constantly battled each other. In one play, the latter grabbed a steal and went for a drive to the basket. Sengun trailed behind Sabonis and tried to block his layup. However, Sengun’s knee twisted inward on the way down after which he went down. He held his right knee in pain for several minutes before being taken off the court in a wheelchair.
Alperen Sengun will undergo an MRI on his right knee and ankle
First-year head coach, Ime Udoka claimed that Alperen Sengun was getting X-rays done to figure out the intensity of his injury. Adrian Wojnarowski later confirmed that Alperen will be getting MRIs on his right knee and ankle. The likelihood of Sengun making it back immediately is very slim and this injury doesn’t seem like something he can recover from with just a day’s rest. Unfortunately, losing Sengun would also mean the Rockets may not capture a Play-In berth.
However, the Rockets were able to defeat the Kings. In 29 minutes, Alperen Sengun had 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. Six other Rockets players managed to score in double digits. Fred VanVleet finished with a team-high 22 points while Jalen Green had 19 points. Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore played crucial roles coming off the bench as well.