The Rockets (32-35) had just stretched their winning streak to five games by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-103 at home on Saturday.
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When asked about Alperen Sengun’s absence coinciding with Jalen Green’s recent surge, Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka didn’t beat around the bush. The Rockets (32-35) had just stretched their winning streak to five games by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-103 at home on Saturday.
This victory was part of a bigger trend, with Houston securing seven wins in their last eight games as they prepare to face the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. Houston’s last three wins have been achieved without Sengun, who happens to be the Rockets’ top scorer and rebounder. Udoka pointed out that without Sengun’s inside scoring threat, the Rockets have more opportunities to attack the basket. This setup plays into Green’s strengths, given his remarkable athleticism.
However, Udoka also mentioned that the Rockets’ recent success has been built on their commitment to playing at a faster pace. This shift in play style had already begun before Sengun got injured with ankle and knee issues during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 10.
For the Wizards, Avdija, Bagley, Jones, Livers, and Shamet will not be playing the game due to injuries. As for the Rockets, Adams, Eason, Sengun, and Whitmore will be sitting this one out due to injuries.
Green, who was named Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday, has really seized the opportunity. He started being assertive even when Sengun was playing, but now that the Rockets need more scoring, Green has stepped up his game even more.
Last week, Green led the team with averages of 26.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 49.2 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from beyond the arc.
With Green excelling, the Rockets now appear to be a much more confident team. Consequently, as of Monday, Houston was just three games behind in the loss column for the final play-in spot in the Western Conference.
On Sunday, the Wizards (11-57) had to go deep into their bench against the Boston Celtics. Five key players were out of action, leading to a tough 130-104 loss, marking their fourth consecutive defeat.
With Kyle Kuzma, Deni Avdija, Bilal Coulibaly, and Tyus Jones sidelined, the Wizards had to start Justin Champagnie and Patrick Baldwin Jr. Additionally, Jules Bernard, Johnny Davis, and Jared Bulter saw significant playing time. This made the challenge even tougher for the Wizards, who are now 2-12 since the All-Star break, facing off against the best team in the league.
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