Houston holds off late Hawks push with Sengun’s double-double
Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets dunks in the final seconds of their 100-96 win over the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on January 28, 2025. (AFP Photo)
The Houston Rockets extended their winning streak to four games with a 100-96 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, powered by Alperen Sengun’s double-double performance and Jalen Green’s team-leading offense.
Sengun, the third-year center from Türkiye, finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Green contributed 25 points to lead all Rockets scorers. The duo’s performance helped Houston strengthen its position in the Western Conference, where they now stand at 32-14.
The Hawks, who fell to 22-25, were led by Trae Young’s 21 points and nine assists. Despite a late surge that brought Atlanta within two points in the final minute, the Hawks couldn’t overcome their shooting struggles, particularly from three-point range, where they connected on just 11 of 47 attempts.
Sengun’s dunk seals victory for Rockets
Houston’s balanced attack featured additional contributions from Dillon Brooks and Amen Thompson, who each scored 11 points. The victory marks Houston’s 10th win in their last 12 games, pushing them one and a half games ahead of Memphis for the Western Conference’s second seed.
The decisive moment came after De’Andre Hunter missed a potential go-ahead three-pointer in the final seconds. Sengun’s subsequent dunk sealed the victory for the Rockets, who had built a substantial lead before Atlanta’s late comeback attempt.
For Atlanta, the loss extends their losing streak to six games, with their last victory coming against the Boston Celtics on Jan. 18, when they won 119-115 in overtime.
Both teams return to action on Thursday, with the Rockets facing a crucial Western Conference matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies, while the Hawks travel to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers.
