By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A solid showing by the Houston Rockets secured a win, 100-97, over the Milwaukee Bucks in Toyota Center.
Alperen Sengun chipped in a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double alongside three blocks and three assists.
Following Tuesday’s clash with the 22-year-old Turkish center, Giannis Antetokounmpo revealed a conversation between him and Sengun during the recent NBA All-Star Game.
“I asked my oldest son who is the best player in the All-Star Game and he said me. Then Sengun asked him who was the second-best player. He looked around and then said you,” he described a friendship involving his first son, Liam, “He is a good guy. I am happy for what he has accomplished.”
With his side falling to 32-25 in the 2024-25 Regular Season, the Freak posted a 27-point, 10-rebound double-double plus six assists, one block, and one steal. With 4:27 left in the fourth quarter, Amen Thompson was ejected after violently pulling down Giannis’ head with both of his hands.
Amen Thompson with the murder attempt on Giannis Antetokounmpo pic.twitter.com/ySwgFx3iXE
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) February 26, 2025
“People just play hard. At the end of the day, you don’t want to have a league that’s soft. I love guys that play hard. I love guys that are great competitors. I’m one of those guys. Sometimes your competitive nature gets in the way of making the best decision, the best judgment at the time. And I feel like he wanted to make a hard foul but he grabbed my neck. But there’s no hard feeling,” reacted the 30-year-old Greek big.
Pelicans rally past Spurs
Without French Victor Wembanyama (right shoulder deep vein thrombosis), the San Antonio Spurs dropped a 19-point advantage and lost, 109-103, to the New Orleans Pelicans in Smoothie King Center. Polish Jeremy Sochan finished with 12 points, nine rebounds, two blocks, and two assists, while Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili registered two points, one block, one steal, one assist, and one rebound. For the Pels, Croatian Karlo Matkovic combined eight points and two rebounds.