ANOTHER WIN FOR HOUSTON!

Alperen Sengun's huge night helps Rockets beat Wizards 107-92

Alperen Sengun's huge night helps Rockets beat Wizards 107-92
Rockets defeat the Wizards, 107-92. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Alperen Sengun scored 27 points for a second straight game and added 17 rebounds, leading the Houston Rockets to a 107-92 win over the Washington Wizards on Monday night.

Sengun hit 12 of 19 shots and added three blocks. Jalen Green scored 18 points, Amen Thompson had 13, and Jabari Smith Jr. and Aaron Holiday each added 11.

With Fred VanVleet out due to a hamstring injury that coach Ime Udoka said was a day-to-day issue, rookie Reed Sheppard and Holiday saw increased minutes. Sheppard matched his early career high with seven points.

Washington forward Kyle Kuzma returned from a five-game absence due to a right groin strain and led Washington with 18 points on 7-for-18 shooting in 24 minutes. Jordan Poole had 11 points and eight turnovers.

Houston led 55-40 at halftime and never trailed.

The Rockets have won four of five and improved to 7-4, their best 11-game start since the 2019-20 season. Washington has lost five straight.

Takeaways

Wizards: Washington was outrebounded 58-34. The Wizards have failed to outrebound their opponent in all nine games this season. Jonas Valanciunas led Washington with eight rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench. Rookie second-overall pick Alexandre Sarr had six.

Rockets: Sengun has back-to-back 20-point games for the first time this season, a feat he regularly accomplished in last year’s breakout campaign when he averaged 21.1 points. Getting Sengun involved early and often is key for Houston’s success.

Key Moment

The Rockets went on a 10-0 run late in the second quarter, stretching a five-point lead into a 15-point lead that they never relinquished.

Key Stat

The Wizards made just one free throw in the first half on four attempts and finished 9 of 13, both season lows. Houston went 22 for 25.

Up Next

On Wednesday night, the Wizards visit San Antonio, while the Rockets host the Clippers.

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The Angels beat the Astros, 4-1. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.

Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.

The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.

Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.

Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.

Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.

Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.

Key moment

Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.

Key Stat

Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.

Up next

Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.

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