What began as a troubling night for Alperen Sengun and the Houston Rockets transformed into a dominant victory, as the center’s 26-point performance helped power a 135-112 win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.
The Rockets initially looked out of sync, falling behind by 10 points in the first quarter against a Wizards team that started three rookies and was missing leading scorer Jordan Poole. During that opening period, Houston managed just seven field goals and struggled to generate any offensive momentum.
“I started the game bad,” Sengun admitted. “I knew I needed to wake up, and then Fred was helping me out with that. So I was trying to be aggressive.”
The turnaround began with veteran point guard Fred VanVleet, who orchestrated the offense with precision, recording a season-high 12 assists. Six of those passes found Sengun for scores, highlighting the duo’s effective partnership throughout the game.
The center’s efficiency proved crucial as the game progressed, as he shot 52.2% from the field. His performance was part of a larger offensive explosion that saw the Rockets place six players in double figures, including Jalen Green’s game-high 29 points and Amen Thompson’s impressive double-double of 20 points and 15 rebounds.
Sengun and Green proved particularly lethal after halftime, combining for 36 points as the Rockets seized control. Their offensive surge helped Houston turn what had been a close game — they led just 57-55 at halftime — into a decisive victory.
The win improved Houston’s record to 24-12 and marked their second victory over Washington this season, having previously defeated the Wizards 107-92 in their first matchup. The Rockets’ offense proved overwhelming, making 50 of 97 field goal attempts and scoring a season-high 35 points off Washington’s turnovers.
This offensive showcase represented a complete reversal from the game’s opening quarter, where the Rockets had managed just two fast-break points and no second-chance points, while being outscored 16-2 by the Wizards’ bench.
