Sengun Erupts for 43 as Houston Holds Off Utah

Houston beat Utah 125-118 on Friday, taking a 10-point halftime lead before the Jazz outscored the Rockets 36-29 in the third. Alperen Sengun powered Houston with 43 points and 12 rebounds, adding five assists, one steal, one block and one turnover while shooting 17-for-24 from the field, 1-for-3 from three and 8-for-12 at the line. Kevin Durant scored 22 with three rebounds and six assists, shooting 5-for-14 overall and 2-for-4 from three; he had no steals or blocks and two turnovers. Fred VanVleet added 17 points on 6-for-11 shooting, with two rebounds, three assists, one block, no steals and no turnovers, while Tari Eason had 14 points and 11 rebounds on 6-for-13 shooting, plus two assists and one turnover. Utah’s Keyonte George delivered 27 points, six rebounds and seven assists on 8-for-17 shooting, with one steal, no blocks and three turnovers; Darryn Peterson had 28 points and seven rebounds on 9-for-20 shooting, with two assists, two steals, one block and two turnovers. Airious Bailey scored 21 on 7-for-13 shooting and added three rebounds and one assist, with no steals, blocks or turnovers. Houston answered Utah’s third-quarter push with 33 points in the fourth, four more than the Jazz, to secure the seven-point win.