Alperen Sengun’s impressive performance of 22 points and 15 rebounds led the Houston Rockets to a decisive 122-96 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, who were missing key players, NBA superstars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, due to injuries. This marked the season’s first game, where both players were absent for Dallas.
Sengun took advantage of the opportunity, helping Houston snap a three-game losing streak and improve their record to 14-12, while Dallas dropped to 16-12 following their third consecutive loss.
Houston dominated inside, outscoring Dallas 66-50 in the paint. Jabari Smith Jr. contributed 21 points and eight rebounds, and Jalen Green added 17 points. Rockets coach Ime Udoka praised the chemistry and versatility of Sengun and Smith, who have been developing a strong on-court partnership.
“They complement each other well and have good versatility,” Udoka said. “They’ve been together for a few years, and you can see some chemistry building there. They play off of each other well.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets Updates
For Dallas, Olivier-Maxence Prosper led with 20 points off the bench, supported by Dexter Dennis with 18 points, and Richaun Holmes and Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 16.
The Rockets established control early, leading by as many as 38 points in the third quarter. Sengun had a standout first half with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Dallas struggled with their shooting, hitting just 27.8% from the field and 3 of 24 from three-point range.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd emphasized the impact of Doncic’s absence and the need to create shots without him. Meanwhile, Houston capitalized on fast breaks, recording a season-high 29 fast-break points.
“When you can’t put the ball in the basket, you’ve got to get stops, and we just didn’t do that tonight,” Kidd said. “Being shorthanded puts things into perspective of how important Luka is to the team and how much he creates for everyone. If he can’t go tomorrow, we’ve got to find a way to create shots.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets Updates
By halftime, Houston had built a significant lead, extending into the fourth quarter. The game saw contributions from almost every Rockets player, while fan-favorite Boban Marjanovic did not play despite the crowd’s chants. Both teams were missing other players due to injuries, with the Mavericks without Dante Exum and the Rockets missing Tari Eason.
Looking ahead, the Mavericks will host the San Antonio Spurs, while the Rockets travel to the New Orleans Pelicans, with both games scheduled for Saturday night.
