NBA: Houston Rockets star duo out to take down Spurs again

The Houston Rockets showcased the ideal version of what they hope for from the pairing of Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun on Monday, delivering a performance the team hopes becomes a regular occurrence.

Durant and Sengun each scored 33 points as the Rockets rallied for a 108-99 victory over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies. This was the first of three home games for Houston this week, with the next matchup scheduled for Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs.

The duo was particularly dominant in the fourth quarter, erasing a 10-point deficit from the third quarter. Durant scored nine points on 3-for-5 three-point shooting, while Sengun dominated with 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists in the final frame.

Houston has experimented with the two-man game between Durant and Sengun this season, with varying levels of success. Against Memphis, the pairing proved virtually unstoppable.

“We're learning each other,” Durant said. “And we'll continue to learn each other as we both get better, as we get more acclimated to the system. That process of figuring each other out is ongoing throughout the whole season. Monday is one of those nights you take a step in the right direction.”

Sengun took full advantage when the Grizzlies avoided double-teaming him in the post, punishing single coverage and thriving in pick-and-roll situations. When Memphis sent help, Sengun was equally skilled at finding open teammates, often setting up Durant for open shots.

“Because they don't want to leave Kevin's body, Alpi is able to get downhill a little bit,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “Kevin popped out and got those slip-out threes and vice versa. It worked well together. Both draw a lot of attention. We didn't really get other shots, but those two working together was really good at the end.”

Meanwhile, the Spurs continue to grapple with closing out games. After blowing a 16-point lead in a 111-106 loss to the Rockets on Jan. 20, and bouncing back with a win over the Utah Jazz on Jan. 22, San Antonio surrendered a 17-3 closing run in a 104-95 home defeat against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.

The Spurs, who remain the second seed in the Western Conference, are seeing the growing pains of a youthful roster. Early-season success raised expectations, and the team is seeking solutions to address recurring challenges.

“We have a talented basketball team and we might rely on it too much sometimes,” Spurs All-Star center Victor Wembanyama said. “We still make lots of mistakes, even when something works over and over. Talent can bail us out sometimes, but there are days you can't make shots, so you have to impact the game in every other area. Someone will always make shots, but we need to do the hard things.”

—Field Level Media/Reuters