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The Houston Rockets fell 112-108 to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night at Toyota Center, dropping to a 3-0 deficit in the Western Conference first-round series after a late-game collapse in regulation and overtime. LeBron James tied the game with a late three-pointer before the Lakers closed it out in extra time.
Alperen Sengun delivered 33 points and 16 rebounds, but he was direct about the result afterward. “It wasn’t enough. I guess I could have done more. Some defensive positions, some missed shots, still some helps. I still did a good job, but it wasn’t enough. So I got to come better Sunday.”
Houston controlled stretches of the game but failed to execute in the final seconds of regulation, something Sengun acknowledged came down to broken actions and pressure defense.
“They got a deflection in the first position, so then we got the ball in the half court. It was kind of different. Normally I was getting the ball at the elbow,” the Turkish center said about the final possession of the game.
Sengun also admitted the decision-making sequence unraveled under pressure. “I could have passed to Tari, but I rushed a little bit on Reed’s turnover.”
On Reed Sheppard’s late-game mistake, Sengun kept perspective despite the frustration. “It happens. I guess he couldn’t see. He was trying to beat the double team, but it happens. It’s his first playoff experience. He’s going to grow.”
The Rockets reviewed the key breakdowns immediately after the loss. “We watched the last positions, the two turnovers and two threes, and then the last ball. We learn, we watch, we learn. That’s what Ime said. We’re going to watch it. We’re going to learn, grow together.”
Despite falling into a 3-0 series deficit, Sengun insisted the mindset has not shifted. “We’ll be upset tonight, that’s for sure. But we got to get over this. The series is not over. We still believe in it.”
Houston continues to lean on multiple contributors amid injuries, including Kevin Durant’s absence. “We’ve been fighting with injuries the whole long season. Whoever is on the court, we have a lot of talent and somebody got to step up.”
Sengun also described his aggressive approach as a key takeaway. “I was more dominant today in the paint making the shots, not thinking about missing or making, doesn’t matter. That’s what I do.”
He closed with a defiant message about the team’s identity. “We are warriors. We have a lot of young players who believe in each other. Nobody is giving up.”
The Rockets now face elimination pressure in Game 4, with history firmly stacked against any team attempting a 3-0 series comeback.
