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Alperen Sengun delivered a composed and detailed postgame breakdown after the Houston Rockets’ 99-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 on Wednesday night at crypto.com Arena.
Sengun finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists as Houston cut the series deficit to 3-2 and extended its season into Game 6.
The Rockets center emphasized adjustment against defensive pressure, pointing to film study and decision-making improvements.
“We learned watching film, watching their defense, kind of understanding what they do now,” Sengun said. “There’s no reason for me to rush the shot or attack the double team.”
Sengun highlighted how Houston’s passing decisions shaped his performance and the team’s offensive flow.
“I’m just trying to pick it apart and find my teammates and find the open shots,” he said. “And that was my job today.”
The Turkish center also described Houston’s approach to the elimination pressure as a collective mindset built on trust.
“Everybody believes in each other. Everybody has their back and that’s really important,” Sengun said. “Nobody really cares who is shooting the ball. We’re just trying to find the open shot.”
Houston’s ball movement and balanced scoring once again stood out, with Jabari Smith Jr. scoring 22 points and Tari Eason adding 18 in a controlled offensive structure.
Sengun pointed to the team’s experience from last season’s playoff run as a foundation for its current resilience.
“We learned last year. We came back this season,” he said. “We put ourselves in a bad position, but we can still make history and come back.”
The Rockets have now won two straight games despite missing Kevin Durant for most of the series, relying on collective execution on both ends of the floor.
Defensively, Sengun stressed communication and structure as Houston continues to limit late-game Lakers runs.
“If we’re going to win this series, we need everybody on this team,” he said. “This is not a five-person game.”
He also credited contributions from the bench and leadership within the roster, highlighting a team-wide commitment.
“Even the players who don’t play, on the bench, whenever we come to timeout, they’re always talking to us,” Sengun said. “Everybody locked in, everybody positive.”
Sengun closed his remarks by acknowledging the pressure and urgency of the moment while keeping the focus on execution.
“If we lose, we go home,” he said. “Nobody wants to go home.”
Houston now returns home for Game 6 with momentum and a chance to become only the fifth team in NBA history to force a Game 7 after trailing 0-3 in a series.
