The Rockets have proved to be the real deal this season, taking home their first on-the-road victory of the season against the reigning Champions, the Denver Nuggets. In a thrilling encounter at the Ball Arena, the Rockets managed to clinch a 114-106 victory and take a 3-1 win in the four-game series.
The victory was especially notable due to the fact that the Nuggets were without their star player, Nikola Jokic. The Serbian center has been in exceptional form this season, but he was unable to help his team in this encounter due to a minor injury.
However, the Rockets were able to take advantage of Jokic’s absence and put in an impressive performance. Alperen Sengun, the Turkish center, was the standout performer for the Rockets, scoring a career-high 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
The performance of Alperen Sengun was especially noteworthy, as it was his first game against the Nuggets since being traded from the Mavericks in the offseason. He was able to make an immediate impact, and his performance will likely reap long-term benefits for the Rockets.
The victory was made even more impressive by the fact that the Rockets were without star guard James Harden. The former MVP is currently out with a hamstring injury, and his absence was felt throughout the game. However, the Rockets were able to step up and put in a strong performance without their star man.
The Rockets will now look to build on this victory and continue their strong form. With the return of James Harden, the Rockets will be an even more formidable force, and they will be looking to make a deep run in the playoffs.
The absence of Nikola Jokic was a huge blow for the Nuggets, but it could prove to be a blessing in disguise for Alperen Sengun. The Turkish center was able to put in an impressive performance against a formidable opponent, and this will no doubt give him confidence going forward.
The Rockets will now host the Utah Jazz in their next game, and they will be looking to build on their impressive victory against the Nuggets. With James Harden set to return soon, the Rockets will be looking to make a deep run in the playoffs and prove themselves as a real contender in the Western Conference.
Alperen Sengun has certainly made the most of Nikola Jokic’s short-term bad form, and he will be hoping to continue his impressive form throughout the remainder of the season. The Rockets will be hoping that his performance against the Nuggets will be the first of many, and that he will be able to continue to reap long-term benefits from this short-term bad form.