By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Recovering from an injury forcing a premature ending to his 2023-24 campaign, Turkish center Alperen Sengun entered the 2024 NBA Preseason with the Houston Rockets on Monday.
Sengun, 22, logged 17 points with 6/8 from the field, four assists, four rebounds, three steals, and one block over 22 minutes in a loss, 122-113, to the Utah Jazz in Delta Center.
“His lean muscle mass is better that it has been, and his weight is a little lower. He is in good shape, and we are going to need that from him to have a big season,” Rockets head coach Ime Udoka described his player after the friendly contest, “He had a really good summer. He is gotten himself into tremendous shape.”
For the winning side, Finnish Lauri Markkanen scored a team-high 17 points behind 3/11 field goals to go with four rebounds and one assist over 24 minutes. Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk did not play.
Perfect game for Yabusele
In Wells Fargo Center, French forward Guerschon Yabusele contributed 15 points with 6/6 field goals as the Philadelphia 76ers routed the New Zealand Breakers, 139-84. Lasting 16 minutes in a one-sided affair, he also put in two assists, one rebound, and one steal.
Fresh off being selected with the 41st overall pick of the 2024 NBA draft, Turkish forward Adem Bona tallied five points, four rebounds, and two steals in 15 minutes.
Moving to Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, the Sixers face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.