By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Alperen Sengun and the Houston Rockets were eliminated from the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google after losing to the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
Prevailing, 103-89, in Toyota Center on Sunday sent the team coached by Steve Kerr to the next round.
“I learned a lot. First time in the Playoffs, for me,” the 22-year-old Turkish center replied to a question about facing Draymond Green in a best-of-seven series, “Aggressiveness in defense, play both ways. Just try to win, try to help my teammates.”
“Obviously, he is one of the best defenders, all-time. It was great to play against him,” he added in a postgame press conference, “I have a lot to work on, and making all those easy shots. I will work a lot this offseason on those shots and come back even stronger next year. And hopefully make those next year in the Playoffs.”
Sengun finished his 2024-25 journey with a 21-point, 14-rebound double-double alongside five assists, one block, and one steal, lasting nearly 40 minutes.
“I learned real basketball,” he described overall postseason experience: “We learned how to play together. We played a team over and over seven times. So, just trying to stay together, talk every day. It was just a hard series for us.”
“I think I improved my defense this season, but I have to work a lot more on my offense. I didn’t have a great year on offense. I was even better last year, I would say,” Sengun also went into his offseason plans, “I’m just going to focus on that, on my body, my touch, everything. A long summer is waiting for me. So, I have a lot to do.”
Moving on to the Western Conference Semifinals, Dutch reserve Quinten Post logged three fruitless minutes in Game 7. The seventh-seeded Warriors will face the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves with Game 1 in Target Center on Tuesday.
In the NBA Sundays opener, the Indiana Pacers outlasted the Cleveland Cavaliers, 121-112, in Rocket Arena. Rick Carlisle’s side opened a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Semis.
2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google
Conference Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
East
Cleveland Cavaliers – Miami Heat 4-0 (121-100, 121-112, 124-87, 138-83)
Boston Celtics – Orlando Magic 4-1 (103-86, 109-100, 93-95, 107-98, 120-89)
New York Knicks – Detroit Pistons 4-2 (123-112, 94-100, 118-116, 94-93, 103-106, 116-113)
Indiana Pacers – Milwaukee Bucks 4-1 (117-98, 123-115, 101-117, 129-103, 119-118)
West
Oklahoma City Thunder – Memphis Grizzlies 4-0 (131-80, 118-99, 114-108, 117-115)
Houston Rockets – Golden State Warriors 3-4 (85-95, 109-94, 93-104, 106-109, 131-116, 115-107, 89-103)
Los Angeles Lakers – Minnesota Timberwolves 1-4 (95-117, 94-85, 104-116, 113-116, 96-103)
Denver Nuggets – Los Angeles Clippers 4-3 (112-110, 102-105, 83-117, 101-99, 131-115, 105-111, 120-101)
Conference Semifinals (best-of-seven)
East
Cleveland Cavaliers – Indiana Pacers 0-1 (112-121)
Boston Celtics – New York Knicks 0-0
West
Oklahoma City Thunder – Denver Nuggets 0-0
Minnesota Timberwolves – Golden State Warriors 0-0
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