The Houston Rockets estimate All-Star center Alperon Sengung will miss about two weeks after spraining his right ankle on Jan. 3.
Instead, he returned to the lineup within eight days.
Houston has lost three of the four games Sengon has missed (including the original Dallas game, where he missed a minute). That’s a bitter pill to swallow for a team hoping to compete for an NBA championship this season.
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So, Sengun returns this week and his 23 points (55.6% shooting), 11 assists and 7 rebounds were crucial in Tuesday night’s win over the Chicago Bulls. The win ended a three-game losing streak for the Rockets (23-14).
Ahead of Thursday’s home game against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, Sengun admitted he’s not fully healthy yet. But the 23-year-old is focused on the team’s success, and the Rockets are clearly better when their star big man is on the court.
His comments (via Space City Home Network):
Still not 100%. But when I’m outside, I feel nothing. I just feel the game and try to win. Whatever it takes, I’m going to get it.
It won’t reach 100% for the time being. It’s so bad to twist your ankle. But I’m getting over it. I’ve been through (injuries) my whole life and I’m fine with it. My team is playing there and the schedule is busy right now. I can’t just sit there and watch them if I’m not feeling 100 percent.
I’m just trying to get treatment every day, work on my feet, stay as strong as possible and then compete.
The game between the Rockets and Thunder (34-7) will take place Thursday night at 6:30 pm Central Time and will be broadcast to a national audience on Prime Video.
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Houston has won 12 of its last 13 home games at Toyota Center.
Tari Eason continues to be sidelined with a sprained right ankle just days after Sengun’s injury. In recent games, Josh Okogie took Eason’s place.
Sengen, Eason and Steven Adams have all suffered right ankle sprains over the past two and a half weeks, which isn’t the best time for back-to-back home games this week against the Thunder and Timberwolves – the latter of which will visit Houston on Friday night.
Head coach Ime Udoka has yet to reveal who he expects to play against Minnesota (27-14), which Houston is trying to catch in the hotly contested Western Conference standings.
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More: Rockets ankle injury: Alperen Sengun returns, Tari Eason daily
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets need win, Alperen Sengun struggles with ankle injury
