Make it 4-0. The Houston Rockets stayed perfect Monday night at Toyota Center, beating the Atlanta Hawks 120-110 on Filipino Heritage Night in front of a sellout crowd of 18,055. It was the second win over Atlanta in three nights, after Houston took a 121-114 decision in Atlanta on Saturday.
Alperen Sengun led the way with 29 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and a career-high six steals on 11-of-15 shooting. Kevin Durant added 22 points, nine rebounds and four blocks, and Jabari Smith Jr. put up 16 points, a team-high 12 rebounds and five assists.
Sengun Takes Over
Sengun hit a three on his first shot of the night, and every shot he took after that came in the paint, per Sports Illustrated’s Inside the Rockets. His six steals broke his previous career high of five, according to the NBA’s official scorer’s report, and Houston was plus-29 with him on the floor.
Ime Udoka summed it up. “He was huge,” Udoka said, via SI. “He carried us through a good stretch of the third. Really got himself going. Six steals, and he was all over the place. He was a dog down there.”
Sengun pointed to the backcourt help as part of the reason he’s rolling. “Last year I had to do all that stuff,” he said. “Now I can get the rebound, give it to Fred, run and get to my spot. We play faster too.”
How It Played Out
Atlanta came out hot and led 66-63 at the half, shooting 49% from the field. CJ McCollum had 15 of his 20 points before the break. Udoka said the Rockets went back to more traditional coverage at halftime, with Sengun guarding the five, and the Hawks managed just 19 points in the third quarter.
Aaron Wiggins put Atlanta up one midway through the third, but Houston answered with the next nine points, five of them from Sengun, to go up 85-76, per the AP. The Hawks pulled within 95-93 early in the fourth on a Nickeil Alexander-Walker three, and then the Rockets slammed the door. A 14-0 run, with threes from Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason, made it 109-93, and an 8-0 burst after that pushed the lead to 117-95 with under five minutes left.
Eason finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks off the bench, Sheppard scored 13, and Amen Thompson added 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Houston shot 53.1% from the field and won the paint 64-56 and fast-break points 29-20, according to the official box score. The game had 20 lead changes and nine ties before Houston’s lead reached 22.
Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with 21 points and nine rebounds, McCollum scored 20, and Wiggins and Alexander-Walker had 12 each. The Hawks fell to 2-2.
Filipino Heritage Night
Monday was the Rockets’ Filipino Heritage Night, with a ticket package that came with a limited-edition Filipino x Rockets bucket hat, per Toyota Center. The Rockets have been tough on this night lately. Monday’s win makes Houston 5-0 in its last five Filipino Heritage Night games, going back to 2022:
- Oct. 24, 2022: Rockets 114, Jazz 108
- Nov. 1, 2023: Rockets 128, Hornets 119
- April 2, 2025: Rockets 143, Jazz 105
- Dec. 5, 2025: Rockets 117, Suns 98
- Oct. 26, 2026: Rockets 120, Hawks 110
Injury Note
Marcus Smart (forearm strain) and Steven Adams (right leg soleus strain) both sat out for the second straight game. Udoka said Smart could return in the next game, while Adams will be out at least another week, per the AP.
What’s Next
The Rockets hit the road for a two-game trip, starting Wednesday, Oct. 28, against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. CT on Space City Home Network and SCHN+. From there, Houston visits Dallas on Friday before coming home to face Oklahoma City on Halloween.
Keep it locked on LFG Houston’s Rockets coverage all season long. Catch up on Amen Thompson Stuffs Wemby at the Buzzer as Rockets Beat Spurs 114-110 and the season-opening win over Dallas, and dig into how Clutch City was born.
Stats via the NBA.com official box score and scorer’s report. Reporting from the AP and Sports Illustrated. Schedule via NBA.com.
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