The Houston Rockets win in Indiana thanks to Alperen Sengün, even without Kevin Durant. James Harden is once again missing for the L.A. Clippers, and without their playmaker, the Californians lose to the Philadelphia 76ers.
NBA: Sengün records season best
The Rockets struggled to win in Indiana, partly because Kevin Durant was sidelined with minor ankle problems. Alperen Sengün stepped into the breach, with the Turkish player setting a season high with 39 points (13/25 FG). He also added 16 rebounds, seven of them on the offensive board. This is where the game was decided. With Houston leading by three points in the final seconds, the center missed both free throws but then grabbed his own rebound. Amen Thompson (16 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists) then made at least one attempt with four seconds left on the clock, which was enough to secure the victory. Pascal Siakam (27) and Bennedict Mathurin (25) were the top scorers for the Pacers, but they were no match for the Rockets’ size. Indy conceded 30 points off offensive rebounds, which was too much to overcome to win this game.
NBA: Grizzlies end losing streak
There was a minor surprise in Memphis, where the Grizzlies, without six rotation players and a ten-man roster, took the Wolves by surprise. A three-point shooting percentage of 46 percent (19/41) helped enormously, with four players hitting at least three long-range shots. This ended a streak of six consecutive losses; on Saturday night, the Grizzlies had lost decisively to the Wolves at the same venue. Jaren Jackson Jr. led his team with 30 points, and six other players scored in double digits. For Minnesota, Anthony Edwards (39, 13/27) fought hard to avoid defeat, and Jaden McDaniels (29, 11/14) also had a good night offensively. However, when you allow 137 points on the road, you don’t have a good chance of winning the game.
NBA: Sixers win in L.A.
Meanwhile, the Sixers won their first game without Paul George, who is suspended for 25 games. In L.A., Philly was able to rely on Tyrese Maxey (29) and Joel Embiid (24), and Dominick Barlow (26, 16 rebounds) also had an outstanding game under the boards. Things did not go well at all for V.J. Edgecombe, however, with the rookie converting only one of his eleven shots, but the visitors still managed to secure a victory.
Meanwhile, the Clippers were once again without James Harden, with the playmaker reportedly pushing for a trade before Thursday’s deadline. This left Kawhi Leonard (29) somewhat on his own, even though Jordan Miller (21, 9/10) delivered a surprising performance.