Sengun Returns as Rockets Host a Short-Handed Thunder Team Tonight at Toyota Center
Houston gets its center back after two games out — and still takes the floor thin in the backcourt — while Oklahoma City arrives without Chet Holmgren, who is out eight to ten weeks, for a 7:30 p.m. tip on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Rockets get the piece they missed most back tonight. Center Alperen Sengun is available for Saturday's 7:30 p.m. game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Toyota Center, off the injury report after missing two games with low back soreness. Before sitting, Sengun was averaging 24.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists for a Houston team that opened the season 5-1.
The Rockets still take the floor thin. Fred VanVleet is out with right knee injury management, Reed Sheppard misses a second straight game with lower back soreness, and Steven Adams is out for a fifth straight game with a right soleus strain, according to the final injury reports published Saturday afternoon.
Oklahoma City, 4-1, arrives in worse shape. Chet Holmgren is out eight to ten weeks with a small right patellar tendon tear after a treatment procedure on Friday, the Thunder announced, and Jalen Williams (ankle), Cason Wallace (shoulder) and Alex Caruso (ankle) are also out.
Houston is playing the second night of a back-to-back after its first loss of the season, 116-111 at Dallas on Friday, when Kevin Durant scored 28 points but missed four free throws — two of them late, with the Rockets down two. Tonight's game tips at 7:30 p.m. on NBA TV.
