Houston Rockets reach 34th win as Alperen Şengün shines in road victory over Hornets
The Houston Rockets continued their solid campaign with a hard-fought 105-101 win over the Charlotte Hornets, a result that pushed the Texas team to its 34th victory of the season. Turkish big man Alperen Şengün once again played an important role, finishing the night with 13 points and 7 assists, orchestrating the offense and providing stability on both ends of the floor.
The game at Spectrum Center was tight from start to finish, with neither side managing to create a decisive cushion. Houston relied on a balanced attack, combining Şengün’s playmaking from the post with strong perimeter contributions. While Şengün set the tone with his versatile game, Kevin Durant took on the scoring load, delivering 35 points and adding 8 rebounds to drive the Rockets’ offense in crucial moments.
Houston’s supporting cast also proved decisive. Jabari Smith contributed 15 points, stretching the floor and defending multiple positions. Rookie guard Reed Sheppard added 13 points, providing energy and shot-making off the dribble, while Amen Thompson chipped in 9 points and impacted the game with his athleticism and defensive presence. Together, this core allowed the Rockets to control the tempo in the closing minutes and secure the win away from home.
On the Hornets’ side, the loss marked their 30th defeat of the season, despite several strong individual performances. Grant Williams emerged as the team’s most effective scorer, posting 20 points and helping keep Charlotte within striking distance. Brandon Miller, one of the franchise’s key young pieces, finished with 17 points, showing flashes of his offensive potential even as the Hornets struggled to convert key possessions late in the game.
The final stretch came down to execution. Houston’s half-court sets, frequently initiated through Şengün at the elbow and low post, generated quality looks and drew defensive attention, opening space on the perimeter. Defensively, the Rockets tightened up on the Hornets’ shooters in the final minutes, forcing contested jumpers and limiting second-chance opportunities. That combination of composed offense and focused defense was enough to close out a narrow four-point victory.
This result continues a season in which the Rockets are trying to re-establish themselves as a competitive force in the Western Conference. The development of Şengün as a central hub on offense has been one of the main storylines: his ability to score inside, read double-teams, and create for teammates turns Houston’s half-court game into a more unpredictable and versatile system. Performances like this-where his points are complemented by high assist numbers-underline his growing status as a foundational player.
For Charlotte, the defeat highlights ongoing struggles with consistency and late-game execution. While players such as Williams and Miller provide optimism for the future, the team has often found it difficult to string together complete 48-minute performances. Defensive lapses, rebounding issues, and turnovers at critical times have repeatedly cost them in close contests, and this matchup against Houston followed a similar pattern.
In the Eastern Conference clash played at Xfinity Mobile Arena, the Philadelphia 76ers, featuring Turkish player Adem Bona, fell at home to the Atlanta Hawks by a score of 117-107. Philadelphia could not match Atlanta’s offensive firepower despite several notable individual efforts. Bona delivered 9 points and 7 rebounds, showing energy on the boards and activity in the paint, while veteran big man Andre Drummond recorded a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds, providing his usual dominance on the glass.
Tyrese Maxey once again led the Sixers’ scoring with 28 points, relentlessly attacking the rim and creating offense off the dribble. VJ Edgecombe added 20 points, bringing scoring punch from the perimeter, and Kelly Oubre Jr. contributed 17 points with his slashing and transition play. However, defensive breakdowns and difficulties in containing Atlanta’s primary weapons ultimately cost Philadelphia the game.
For the Hawks, Jalen Johnson delivered an outstanding performance, recording 32 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double that anchored Atlanta’s attack. His ability to score at all three levels, combined with his work on the boards, made him a constant mismatch. CJ McCollum supported him with 23 points, using his experience and shot-creation to control key possessions, while Dyson Daniels chipped in 15 points, adding secondary playmaking and perimeter defense.
The loss at home is a setback for the 76ers in a tightly contested Eastern Conference environment. While Maxey’s scoring and the frontcourt contributions from Bona and Drummond are encouraging signs, the team’s defensive rotations and transition coverage remain areas that need improvement. Against a Hawks team that thrives on pace and spacing, every missed assignment was punished on the scoreboard.
Both games underlined a growing trend across the league: young international players like Alperen Şengün and Adem Bona are no longer just complementary pieces but increasingly central to their teams’ game plans. Şengün’s role as a passing big man gives Houston a distinct offensive identity, while Bona’s energy, rim protection, and rebounding offer Philadelphia valuable depth and flexibility in the frontcourt.
Looking ahead, the Rockets’ 34th win strengthens their bid to stay in the playoff or play-in picture. The combination of veteran scoring, emerging young talent, and a more disciplined defensive approach has transformed them from a rebuilding group into a team that can challenge established contenders on any given night. If Şengün continues to evolve as a focal point and the supporting cast maintains its consistency, Houston’s ceiling this season could be higher than many initially expected.
For the Hornets and 76ers, these results point in different directions but raise similar questions: how quickly can young cores mature, and how effectively can coaches integrate rising talents with experienced players? Charlotte must find a way to convert promising individual stat lines into collective success, while Philadelphia needs to balance its offensive firepower with a more cohesive, reliable defensive scheme. In both cases, performances in games like these help clarify which players can be trusted in pressure situations and who will shape the next phase of each franchise’s journey.