Sengun Spearheads Rockets’ Charge in 109-97 Victory Against Knicks

Alperen Sengun dominated the hardwood with an impressive double-double of 25 points and 14 rebounds, guiding the Houston Rockets to claim a hard-fought 109-97 victory against the New York Knicks on Monday night. The Rockets initially held a comfortable 15-point lead, only for the Knicks to reduce the deficit to a single point late in the fourth quarter. However, Sengun, under the strict watch of Karl-Anthony Towns, stepped up his game, netting 10 crucial points in the final stretch to seal the win for Houston.

Fred VanVleet contributed 19 points to Houston’s tally while Jalen Green added 15. On the opposing side, Jalen Brunson emerged as the top scorer for the Knicks with 29 points followed by OG Anunoby who netted 21. Towns, despite his defensive efforts on Sengun, managed to score 17 points and secured a season-high 19 rebounds.

Deep Dive: The Knicks’ Scoring Dilemma and The Rockets’ Collaborative Effort

The Knicks must improve their inside scoring, especially with a player like Towns in their lineup. They were outmatched 62-38 in the paint, a factor that contributed to the end of their two-game winning streak.

On the other hand, the Rockets effectively utilized their squad, with four starters hitting double figures. Amen Thompson, coming off the bench, added 12 points to the team’s total. Consistency, however, remains an area of focus for the Rockets, who nearly squandered a double-digit lead in Monday’s game and had previously lost to the Warriors in OT on Saturday after falling behind by 31 points early.

Decisive Moments and Key Statistics

The turning point of the match came when the Rockets, leading by three, saw Thompson score a spectacular two-handed dunk. This was quickly followed by a 3-pointer from Green, pushing the score to 105-97 with less than a minute left on the clock.

Despite struggling with their long-range shooting, the Rockets still emerged victorious. They managed to net only 8 out of 33 attempts from beyond the arc. Green, after starting 0 for 6, made 2 of 8 attempts, while VanVleet and Jabari Smith Jr. each only managed to make 1 of 5 attempts.

Looking Ahead: Upcoming Matches

The Knicks will next face the Hawks on Wednesday night, while the Rockets look forward to hosting the Spurs on the same night.

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