Alperen Sengun grabs career-high 21 rebounds as Rockets edge Hornets

In their second-to-last game of the NBA’s 2022-23 season, the young and rebuilding Houston Rockets won their second straight and third of four overall, in Friday’s 112-109 win (box score) at Charlotte.

Relative to 2021-22, the biggest improvement for the Rockets (21-60) has come in rebounding, where they rank near the top of the league on a per-game basis after ranking dead last a season ago. That growth was visible at Charlotte (26-55), where second-year big man Alperen Sengun had 14 points and a career-high 21 rebounds. His streak of five straight double-doubles is the first of Sengun’s career.

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Young Rockets guards Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green matched each other with 26 points apiece, which were game highs. Porter made 7 of 13 shots (53.8%) and 2-of-5 from 3-point range, while Green hit 9-of-22 overall (40.9%) and 3-of-8 on 3-pointers (37.5%). Porter also connected on 10-of-12 free throws (83.3%).

Rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr. had 13 points and 3 blocks, making 6-of-11 shots (54.5%) and 1-of-2 from 3-point range (50%). KJ Martin added 14 points and 6 rebounds on 7-of-10 shooting (70%).

Svi Mykhailiuk led the Hornets, who were without marquee players LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward due to injury, with 25 points and 5 assists while making 5-of-14 from 3-point range (35.7%). As a team, Charlotte hit eight 3-pointers in the fourth quarter compared to just one for the Rockets, which nearly allowed them to send the game to overtime.

Scroll on for highlights, postgame interviews, and reaction by Houston fans and media members. Houston will end its season on Sunday at Washington, with the tip set for noon Central.