Rockets Rule Out Alperen Sengun for Wednesday's Game in Milwaukee With Low Back Soreness
Houston will defend its 4-0 start without its best player. Sengun, averaging 24.5 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists, is out Wednesday night - and with Steven Adams also sidelined, the Rockets' center rotation is suddenly thin.
The Houston Rockets will have to protect their unbeaten start without the player at the center of it. Alperen Sengun has been ruled out of Wednesday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks because of low back soreness, according to the NBA's official injury report released Tuesday, which lists him out for the 8 p.m. Eastern tip in Milwaukee. Houston has not announced a timetable for his return or confirmed whether the soreness will cost him additional time. His next opportunity to return could come Friday against Dallas, though his availability for that game remains uncertain.
The designation reaches back to opening night. Sengun first showed signs of back discomfort during Houston's October 21 season opener against Dallas, when he drew an offensive foul against Cooper Flagg with 8:51 remaining in the third quarter and appeared to experience discomfort in his lower back; he briefly left the game before returning to finish with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in the 128-110 win. The Rockets have not confirmed that the Dallas incident caused the soreness behind Wednesday's absence, and coach Ime Udoka has not publicly provided a detailed explanation. Sengun played the next three games, and played brilliantly - through four games he is averaging 24.5 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists while shooting 58.1 percent, and on Monday against Atlanta he finished with 29 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists and a career-high 6 steals in the 120-110 victory that lifted Houston to 4-0.
The replacement problem is real, because the backup is out too. Steven Adams remains sidelined with a right soleus strain, and Udoka indicated Monday that Adams would remain out for at least another week. Clint Capela is the most natural candidate to absorb additional center minutes, though he cannot replicate Sengun's offensive creativity; Jabari Smith Jr., who had 16 points and 12 rebounds against Atlanta, is an option at center in smaller lineups, with Kevin Durant - 22 points Monday - likely to shoulder a greater scoring burden. Marcus Smart is also questionable against Milwaukee with a left forearm strain. The Bucks come in off a 110-102 victory over Indiana. Houston has navigated its first four games without a loss; Wednesday's test is whether it can keep winning without the player who has driven much of its offense.
