Despite the Houston Rockets’ narrow 109–106 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Game 4, Alperen Sengun delivered a performance that placed him among elite company.
The Turkish center tallied 31 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and zero turnovers. He became just the fourth center in NBA playoff history to post those numbers in a single game, joining Nikola Jokic, Shaquille O’Neal and Patrick Ewing.
It was a night of individual brilliance in the midst of collective frustration. With the loss, Houston now trails 3–1 in its first-round series. But while the result stung, Sengun’s continued emergence as a franchise cornerstone was clear.
From the opening tip, he played with intent and confidence despite a rough shooting night early on. He found his rhythm as the game progressed, scoring 21 of his 31 points in the second half, and showed little sign of being rattled by Golden State’s physicality.
His blend of finesse, footwork and interior touch allowed him to control the paint, while his vision and decision-making kept Houston’s offense flowing.
Sengun nearly capped the night with a game-winner. Down one with less than 10 seconds remaining, the Rockets designed a play to get him a clean look near the rim. But veteran defender Draymond Green disrupted the action, forcing the young big man into a tough, contested hook shot that missed. The Warriors escaped with a pivotal win.
Even so, the final moments offered another valuable learning experience for the 22-year-old, who has been Houston’s most consistent performer this postseason. Through four games, he’s averaging 22.3 points and 11.5 rebounds while anchoring both ends of the floor.
For a young Rockets team, the scoreboard only tells part of the story. The bigger picture is Sengun’s rise — a modern big man with the footwork of a EuroLeague veteran and the poise of an All-Star. And now, a playoff stat line fit for NBA royalty.
