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Kevin Durant reacts on the bench after Alperen Şengün exited early with an ankle injury during Houston’s loss to Dallas on Saturday night.
Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant didn’t frame Saturday night as a loss defined by missed shots or late execution.
He framed it as a game reshaped — suddenly and unavoidably — by the loss of a teammate.
That teammate was Alperen Şengün.
The Rockets’ All-Star center exited just over a minute into the first quarter with a right ankle injury, and the ripple effect altered Houston’s rhythm, rotations, and ultimately its outcome in a 110–104 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, snapping a four-game winning streak.
Durant Reacts to Şengün Injury as Rockets Adjust On the Fly
As Durant reacts to Şengün injury, the Rockets were forced to adjust their entire game plan on the fly.
“I mean, that’s always an adjustment for a team when one of their main players goes out doing an action like that,” Durant said. “Everything we did was prepared with our center in the lineup. For him to be taken out of the game with a tough injury, it’s tough for us, but I like how we are all pros and were able to turn the tide and get some momentum for ourselves, regardless.
“We hope he has a speedy recovery, but in the meantime, we have to hold it down for him.”
The way Durant reacts to Şengün injury reflects not just concern for a teammate, but the pressure Houston now faces moving forward.
How Şengün’s Injury Happened
GettyAlperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets is injured during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks.
Şengün was injured while grabbing a rebound in traffic, landing awkwardly and appearing to roll his right ankle after coming down on the foot of Mavericks center Daniel Gafford. He immediately went down, clutching his ankle.
Houston called a timeout with 10:56 remaining in the first quarter so he could be helped to the locker room for evaluation. He did not return and was ruled out before halftime with a lateral right ankle sprain.
With Steven Adams sidelined for a second straight game due to his own ankle injury, the Rockets were suddenly left with Clint Capela as their only true interior presence.
Capela entered for Şengün with 10:56 left in the quarter, and Houston was forced into smaller lineups and quicker decisions for the rest of the night.
Durant Tries to Carry Houston Late
Despite the disruption, Durant nearly dragged Houston back into it.
He scored 12 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter, even while playing the entire second half with four fouls. Dallas saw a 17-point lead trimmed to 106–101 with 1:07 to play before Max Christie answered with a driving dunk that effectively sealed it.
Christie, fourth in the NBA in three-point percentage, finished with 24 points on 4-of-6 shooting from deep, providing the spacing Houston lacked.
Udoka Offers Little Clarity on Şengün’s Status
Afterward, Rockets coach Ime Udoka was asked for an update on Şengün.
“No, not yet,” Udoka told reporters.
Those three words captured the moment — uncertainty layered on top of a season that increasingly revolves around the health and availability of Houston’s most important player.
Why Şengün’s Injury Matters So Much
Şengün, a first-time All-Star last season and a 2025 All-Star, entered the night averaging career highs of 21.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks.
The Rockets are 18–10 with him and 3–1 without him, but those numbers only hint at his importance.
He is Houston’s leading scorer, best passing big man, and the focal point of its half-court offense — the connective tissue between its athletic youth and offensive structure.
He also won a silver medal with Turkey at EuroBasket 2025, reflecting his rising international profile.
Rockets’ Offense Stalls Without Its Hub
Houston struggled offensively, shooting just 38.7% from the field, the team’s second-worst mark of the season.
They dominated the glass — winning 17–2 in offensive rebounds and 15–0 in second-chance points — but their half-court execution lagged.
The season-long absence of Fred VanVleet has already strained their playmaking. Without VanVleet and now potentially without Şengün, Houston becomes far more dependent on isolation and transition.
A Challenging Stretch Ahead for Rockets
The timing is difficult.
The Rockets will play three of their next four games on the road, a stretch that will test their depth and adaptability — especially if Şengün is unavailable.
Houston remains near the top of the Western Conference, but its margin for error narrows significantly without its offensive fulcrum.
For now, the Rockets wait for what they hoped could be a positive update.
But if not, as Durant put it, they hold it down — until Şengün recovers.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
