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The Houston Rockets secured a remarkable 140–127 victory against the Utah Jazz in their preseason encounter, with Turkish center Alperen Şengün once again displaying his versatile talents.
In his 28 minutes of play, Şengün recorded 13 points, five rebounds, 13 assists, and four steals, reinforcing his status as one of the league’s most distinctive big men.
After the game, Kevin Durant, who scored 20 points in his debut with the Rockets, praised his young teammate’s influence on the court.
“Absolutely. We’ve got a big who can step out and create from the top of the key,” said Durant. “Just that positioning creates a lot of space for us. It adds to our unpredictability because he can take players one-on-one, set screens, or execute handoff passes. We can set screens for him, too. When he has the ball, he confounds the defense, and we believe in his ability to make the right choices every single time.”
Durant elaborated on the synergy he shares with Şengün, noting how it complicates matters for opposing defenses.
“When he’s in the post and I’m positioned in the corner or at the top — or even on the same side — defenses find themselves in a dilemma. They typically try to provide help, but I’ve noticed some teams have started to deny me the ball instead. That actually simplifies things for Alperen,” Durant explained. “And it works both ways. When I’m at the top, defenders don’t want to leave him unguarded, giving me just enough room to find my rhythm.”
When asked if double-teams from opponents could be to the Rockets’ advantage, Durant responded without hesitation.
“Definitely. We welcome teams trying to double us,” he said, smiling. “When two defenders go for the ball, it opens up our offense. Everyone gets more involved, and the game flows more smoothly.”
