Houston Rockets’ Alperen Sengun Exits Game After Scary Fall
Alperen Sengun, the center for the Houston Rockets, had a frightening fall during Sunday’s game against the Sacramento Kings, which resulted in him leaving the game in a wheelchair. The incident occurred in the final minute of Houston’s 112-104 victory, as Sengun was contesting a transition layup by Domantas Sabonis.
The fall was quite concerning, as Sengun landed awkwardly on his right leg and his head snapped back towards the basket’s stanchion as he hit the court. He was visibly in pain, clutching his right knee while on the floor. Eventually, his teammates had to assist him into a wheelchair, and he was taken across the court towards the Houston locker room while holding his head in his hands.
The severity of the injury was initially unclear, but reports from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski suggested that Sengun would undergo an MRI on his right knee and ankle the following day.
Sengun, who is 21 years old and in his third NBA season, has been a standout player for the Rockets. Before the game on Sunday, he was averaging 21.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, five assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 53.7% from the field and 29.7% from beyond the arc. His performance against the San Antonio Spurs last Wednesday, where he scored a career-high 45 points in a Rockets victory, showcased his talent and potential.
Despite Sengun’s impressive contributions, the Rockets are facing an uphill battle to make it to the Western Conference play-in games, currently sitting 5.5 games behind the 10th place in the standings with 18 games left in the season. Any significant injury to Sengun could hinder both his and Houston’s development as they continue the rebuilding process after a challenging season last year.