Alperen Sengun flirted with a triple-double to lead a balanced attack for the Houston Rockets, who pulled away in the fourth quarter of a 115-108 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.
Sengun posted 19 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists to help Houston snap the Warriors’ eight-game winning streak. Golden State played most of the game without Stephen Curry, who logged six minutes before departing with a right abdominal strain in the opening period.
After Georges Niang and De’Anthony Melton nailed 3-pointers to open the fourth quarter, the Warriors cut a 15-point deficit to 88-85. But Sengun fed Amen Thompson for a baseline layup before Reed Sheppard hit back-to-back 3-pointers. Fred VanVleet later added two 3-pointers around a Jabari Smith Jr. dunk, and the Rockets extended to a 111-93 cushion.
Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 20 points while Thompson added 19 points and seven rebounds. VanVleet posted 18 points and six assists while Smith (14 points, eight rebounds) and Sheppard (13 points, three 3-pointers) also scored in double figures.
Houston made 6 of 10 3-pointers in the fourth and outscored Golden State 50-34 in the paint for the game.
Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg produced a double-double (25 points, 10 rebounds) for the Warriors. Brandin Podziemski added 22 points, six rebounds and four assists.
The Warriors conceded 10 points on six turnovers in the first quarter, with the Rockets totaling eight points in transition in the frame. Durant dunked in transition for a 19-10 lead at the 6:27 mark to force a timeout. Curry departed for the locker room during the break and did not return.
VanVleet beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer, and the Rockets carried a 35-20 lead into the second. But after LJ Cryer sank a pair of 3-pointers early in the period, Lendeborg carried the Warriors for the rest of the period. He scored in a variety of ways, off dribble drives, in the post and via midrange jumpers. Lendeborg scored 13 points in the period to help shave the deficit to 49-48.
But when Sengun converted off an offensive rebound with 0.4 seconds left, Houston led 56-51 at the half.
