By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In a standout performance during an eventful Monday NBA evening, Alperen Sengun recorded a game-high 32 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 123–118 victory over the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. The 23-year-old Turkish center shot 12-of-20 from the field and added 13 rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal. Despite committing eight turnovers in 38 minutes, he remained effective. “They were guarding one-on-one, and we lost some balls like that. Attacking the crowd, that was the key, I think,” he noted in a postgame interview regarding his adjustments to the Wizards’ defense.
Meanwhile, Trae Young was ejected for entering the court to argue with a referee, just days before his projected Wizards debut against the Utah Jazz on Thursday. Following the game, teammate Bilal Coulibaly praised Young’s leadership: “It means a lot. He’s been really involved since he got here, on the court, off the court, in practice, when we take the plane, when we are in different cities, and all that.”
The backup Rockets center behind Sengun, Swiss Clint Capela, contributed four points and eight rebounds in 11 minutes. For the hosts, France’s Coulibaly led the scoring with 23 points to go with two blocks, one steal, and one rebound in 27 minutes, with Serbia’s Tristan Vukcevic (left thigh contusion) joining France’s Alex Sarr (right hamstring strain) on the injury report.
With Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (general illness) missing a fifth consecutive game in the 2025-26 Regular Season, the Golden State Warriors fell 114–101 to the Los Angeles Clippers at Chase Center. Dutch reserve options for head coach Steve Kerr ranged from Quinten Post scoring nine points to Malevy Leons with six scoreless minutes.
The visitors rallied from a 17-point deficit, supported by Swiss Yanic Konan Niederhauser chipping in 11 points, nine rebounds, four blocks, and two steals in 21 minutes. However, France’s Nicolas Batum logged six fruitless minutes, and Serbia’s Bogdan Bogdanovic did not play.
Monday results
Washington Wizards – Houston Rockets 118-123
Milwaukee Bucks – Boston Celtics 81-108
Utah Jazz – Denver Nuggets 125-128
Golden State Warriors – Los Angeles Clippers 101-114
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 45-14
2. Boston Celtics 41-20
3. New York Knicks 39-22
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 38-24
5. Toronto Raptors 35-25
6. Philadelphia 76ers 33-27
7. Miami Heat 32-29
8. Orlando Magic 31-28
9. Atlanta Hawks 31-31
10. Charlotte Hornets 30-31
11. Milwaukee Bucks 26-34
12. Chicago Bulls 25-36
13. Washington Wizards 16-44
14. Brooklyn Nets 15-45
15. Indiana Pacers 15-46
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 47-15
2. San Antonio Spurs 43-17
3. Houston Rockets 38-22
4. Minnesota Timberwolves 38-23
5. Denver Nuggets 38-24
6. Los Angeles Lakers 36-24
7. Phoenix Suns 34-26
8. Golden State Warriors 31-30
9. Los Angeles Clippers 29-31
10. Portland Trail Blazers 29-33
11. Memphis Grizzlies 23-36
12. Dallas Mavericks 21-39
13. New Orleans Pelicans 19-43
14. Utah Jazz 18-43
15. Sacramento Kings 14-48
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins