Kevin Tokom and Alperen Senges

Injured ankle early 2026, Alperen Sengun he struggled to get back to his best level, as he himself admitted. But against the Grizzlies, the Rockets center showed his most dominant face.

From the first half, he imposed his rule: 14 points on 7/7 shooting when he returned to the locker room.

It’s been three weeks since my ankle injury and I’m feeling better now. provides the pivot. “The swelling is almost completely gone. I didn’t feel comfortable jumping on my two braces. So, things are better. We had two days without a game, that helped me.”

Returning from the locker room, Kevin Durant took the lead with 12 points in the third quarter. Despite this strong pass, Houston approaches the last twelve minutes with a slight delay. So Alperen Sengun takes control. The Turk launched a decisive 12-2 run, scoring six points to give the Texans the lead.

“He carries us when we have trouble getting our shots in.” recognizes Kevin Durant. “In the first three quarters, we had good shots, but we didn’t make them. He remained constant, he got us into a rhythm. We fed on his actions, and in the fourth quarter we managed to change the situation.”

In the heart of the last quarter, the Turkish interior receives a pass from Kevin Durant. Santi Aldama is forced to help, which completely frees KD from behind the arc: Houston immediately finds an open shot.

Un duo was flying

On the next possession, the roles were reversed. Santi Aldama finds himself directly on Alperen Sengun, while Jaylen Wells stays glued to Kevin Durant, unwilling to let go of KD to come to the rescue. Result: Alperen Sengun clears his defender and enters the circle.

“They had favorable matches” Analyzing Udoka. “Senguna was defending Aldam, so he could go to his places. They started to play in pairs, on classic or reverse pick-and-roll. As Memphis could not leave Durant alone, Sengun could attack the racket, and vice versa, KD was served for 3 points. »

The sequence that closes the meeting resembles a summary of a tactical duel. With only six points left, Memphis changes again on a screen set by Kevin Durant: Jaren Jackson Jr. comes to Wales’ aid, freeing Kevin Durant full shaft. His pivot serves him, and the former Nets immediately punishes him from long range.

“It’s fun… and demoralizing for the other team,” smiles Kevin Durant. “At the end of the match, they switched screens: Sengun found himself with the wing on his back, and I was wide open for a 3-pointer. When they passed him, he just had to turn around to come back with a right hand, and then he did what he wanted.”

The same reading on the Sengun page: “When I play like that, it opens up the game for both of us. If they come to help, I’m going to find it every time. If they don’t, it leaves me to play.”

Carried by this duo, Houston won 108-99. Alperen Sengun finished with an impressive 15/17 shot, and the Rockets get their fifth win in six games, they confirmed their place in the Top 4 of the Western Conference with 28 wins and 16 losses, in an evening in which the connection with Kevin Durant changed the match.

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