Alperen Sengun must not have been completely disoriented. In a slow and physical match, as he experienced during his training in Europe, the Rockets pivot dominated the debates against the Warriors in the quarter-finals of the NBA Cup. If the decision was made on a whistle at the very end of the match, Houston would hardly have been able to withstand the shock without a good performance from its Turkish player throughout the match.
Because if Alperen Sengun will not remain as the MVP of the night with the most dazzling statistics (26 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 interceptions), he was the spearhead of the qualification of his team.
The pivot showed his consistency, taking advantage of his size advantage over Draymond Green whenever he had the opportunity. Six points in the first, third and fourth quarters, eight in the second: the pivot never gave up in a match which was more like the fight of the 90s than the more unbridled game of today.
“ I've never seen my team so hungry“, assured the person concerned at the microphone of ESPN after the match. “ We fought, we knew it was going to be difficult. They played hard, we played hard. I am proud of the team and my teammates. We prepared so much for this match, so I'm happy, it's a great moment. »
Regular and decisive
The only Rocket to exceed ten points at the break (14 points), Alperen Sengun showed his wide offensive palette: touch, power, and a dose of spectacle as he knows how to do, with a superb blind pass in the second quarter. He added great composure when finishing the layup with contact against Kevon Looney, with only 27 seconds to play and three points behind.
“ This is a big step forward for us against a championship team » estimated “Alpi”, top scorer in the fourth quarter despite his six “small” points. But in a match where each ball was very expensive, the Turk's consistency, even in hot moments, was precious to Houston. “ We finished the match well, we really improved on that. »
The Rockets will now live another experience that could make them grow, the final four of this NBA Cup, just two games away from a coronation synonymous with a founding act for this young group.
This will require a victory against another team with a similar profile, the Thunder, who can rely on their experience in the playoffs last season. And Alperen Sengun pulls no punches when describing his ambition: “ We're going to play the title » proclaims the hero of the evening.
