By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Houston Rockets rookie Alperen Sengun had the highest-scoring performance in the NBA so far and did so against the reigning champions.
Sengun scored 15 points on 6-8 2-pointers in 16 minutes off the bench while grabbing five rebounds in a Rockets‘ loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Turkish center was a team-high +11 and gave quite the trouble to the stout Bucks‘ defense.
The Bucks tried DeMarcus Cousins and Bobby Portis on Sengun but the young big man managed to beat their defense, often scoring tough baskets. Giannis Antetokounmpo had to come to the rescue.
“I watched all of them in my childhood,” Sengun said. “It is giving me big hope when I play against them like tonight. Giannis is an amazing player. I was really happy to play against him.”
“It makes me really happy and is a big experience for me,” Sengun added. “First attack I lost the ball. I learned a lesson from that and then I played better in the second attack.”
Rockets coach Stephen Silas really liked what he saw from Sengun against the Bucks. “It was great,” Silas said. “His postgame, his footwork, his ability to pass to his teammates. Even the threat of the pass is important. I was proud of him.”
Silas mentioned that he didn’t use Sengun for more minutes since the presence of Antetokounmpo as center made it difficult for the rookie. “I wanted to figure out a way to keep him in the game, but when they have Giannis at the 5, it was hard,” Silas said.
Sengun is averaging 8.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 17.8 minutes over 23 games of his debut NBA season so far.