HOU 134, NOP 102: Alperen Sengun Pours In 36 Points
Tyler Okonkwo
Student & Retail Associate ยท Houston Rockets fan
Sengun Goes Supernova, Rockets Roll Past Pelicans 134-102
Listen, I'm gonna cut straight to it because I'm still buzzing. Alperen Sengun just put on a masterclass and reminded everyone why he's a first-round lock next season. My dad called me during the second quarter like "that's All-NBA level footwork" and honestly, he wasn't wrong.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alperen Sengun | 92.0 | 80.1 | 36/13/7 | 20.7/9.0/6.2 | +15.3 |
| Amen Thompson | 42.0 | 40.1 | 14/8/5 | 17.9/7.9/5.2 | -3.9 |
| Dejounte Murray | 44.0 | 37.8 | 19/4/6 | 17.3/5.2/6.5 | +1.7 |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | 41.0 | 35.3 | 20/4/3 | 15.6/6.9/1.9 | +4.4 |
| Kevin Durant | 35.0 | 34.8 | 20/4/6 | 25.9/5.4/4.6 | -5.9 |
| Clint Capela | 32.0 | 32.3 | 6/14/3 | 3.7/4.7/0.7 | +2.3 |
| Saddiq Bey | 34.0 | 29.9 | 18/7/1 | 17.4/5.6/2.6 | +0.6 |
| Tari Eason | 32.0 | 29.1 | 15/8/1 | 10.4/6.3/1.5 | +4.6 |
| Jeremiah Fears | 26.0 | 28.9 | 12/2/5 | 13.0/3.5/3.3 | -1.0 |
| Yves Missi | 27.0 | 27.5 | 8/5/1 | 5.5/5.7/1.3 | +2.5 |
The Sengun Take-Over
36 points and 13 rebounds on 12-23 shooting with five threes. That's not just a good night, that's a "why isn't this guy in every conversation" night. Sengun was +15.3 on his season scoring average and basically played four quarters to Houston's three and a half. The Pelicans had no answer for him in the post, and when they sent help, he found cutters. That 7 assists tells you he wasn't being selfish either.
Yahoo's got him at 80.1 FP. ESPN at 92. Either way, he just paid for himself and your entire bench this week. If you have him, you're not trading him. If you don't, yeah, that ship sailed somewhere around draft season, but file this away for next year. This is the guy.
The Rockets' Role Clarity
One thing that stands out is how balanced Houston was without it mattering. Amen Thompson didn't have his best shooting night (5-10) but still pulled 40.1 Yahoo points with the steals and defensive pressure. Jabari Smith Jr. went +4.4 on his season average with four threes, which is exactly what you want to see from him. Kevin Durant actually underperformed slightly (20 points on 7-16) but nobody cared because Sengun was doing too much damage.
Clint Capela stepping up on the glass is worth noting though. 14 rebounds in just 16 minutes is absolutely nuclear efficiency. If Steven Adams stays dealing with minutes restrictions, Capela becomes a must-start center.
The Pelicans Side
Nobody really cooked for New Orleans. Dejounte Murray (37.8 Yahoo) did his job, getting 19 points and 6 assists in limited minutes. Saddiq Bey (29.9 Yahoo) was solid with four threes. Jeremiah Fears (28.9 Yahoo) showed flashes with 5 assists in 22 minutes, which is whatever, that's a young guy in a blowout.
The issue is Zion Williamson went -3.3 on his season average with just 18 points and 4 rebounds in 25 minutes. Rockets' defense clamped him down early and New Orleans never recovered. Yves Missi (27.5 Yahoo) tried on the glass with 5 rebounds, but 8 points in 31 minutes tells you everything about how this game went.
What Matters for Your Roster
Real talk: if you own Sengun, you're holding. If you're streaming a center and Capela is available, grab him today before everyone else does. The efficiency off the bench is ridiculous right now.
Bey in New Orleans is becoming a consistent fantasy contributor, but he's capped by that team's overall situation. Murray stays steady but nothing flashy. Fears is still just a rookie getting run, so don't overreact to one good game.
Tari Eason (29.1 Yahoo) getting 22 minutes and putting up threes is something to monitor. That's a guy getting chances to expand his role, and the production is there.
Don't panic on Durant. One game under his average in a blowout doesn't mean anything when the team's just implementing different looks. He'll be back to his usual 26+ point nights.
Bottom Line
Rockets handled business. Houston's three-star core (Sengun, Durant, Thompson) is legitimate, and if they keep getting role players like Smith Jr. and Eason involved, they're a problem come playoff time. From a fantasy standpoint, Sengun just cemented himself as elite tier, and Capela's efficiency off the bench is a pickup target before the next game.
Pelicans need to figure out their identity after this one. Murray's fine, Bey's fine, but they need more from their stars when they face teams with real centers. For fantasy purposes, it was a quiet night all around except at the top.