Sengun Shines as Rockets Outlast Bulls in 35-Lead-Change Thriller
The Houston Rockets emerged victorious against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, securing a 119-113 win in a game defined by relentless back-and-forth action. The contest at the Toyota Center featured a remarkable 35 lead changes, ultimately decided by a stellar performance from Turkish star Alperen Sengun.
Sengun recorded his sixteenth double-double of the 2025-26 NBA regular season, amassing 23 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds, and a block in 36:09 of play. His all-around contribution proved crucial for the Rockets, who navigated a tightly contested affair. Swiss center Clint Capela added two points and two rebounds in a limited 4:47 on the court.
For the visiting Bulls, Lithuanian forward Matas Buzelis led the scoring with 19 points, alongside six rebounds and two assists. Montenegrin veteran Nikola Vucevic contributed 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and a steal, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Houston’s resilience. The Bulls will be without Frenchman Noa Essengue for the remainder of the season due to a left shoulder surgery.
Elsewhere, the Miami Heat secured a 127-121 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Swedish guard Pelle Larsson played 27:22 minutes despite a left middle finger injury, scoring two points. Serbian forward Nikola Jovic added a point off the bench for Miami, while Italian Simone Fontecchio and Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis did not see action. Russian player Vladislav Goldin saw minutes with the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the G League.
The Portland Trail Blazers suffered a 119-97 defeat against the Golden State Warriors, with Deni Avdija sidelined due to low back pain. French reserve Rayan Rupert paced Portland with 13 points, supported by Belgian Toumani Camara (six points) and Frenchman Sidy Cissoko (three points). Dutch starter Quinten Post scored three points, while his compatriot Malevy Leons remained with the Santa Cruz Warriors.
In a matchup at the Smoothie King Center, the Denver Nuggets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 122-116 despite the absence of key players Nikola Jokic (left knee bruise) and Jonas Valanciunas (right calf strain). Croatian reserve Karlo Matkovic chipped in with four points for the Pelicans.
Tuesday’s Results:
- Miami Heat – Phoenix Suns 127-121
- Houston Rockets – Chicago Bulls 119-113
- Milwaukee Bucks – Minnesota Timberwolves 106-139
- New Orleans Pelicans – Denver Nuggets 116-122
- Oklahoma City Thunder – San Antonio Spurs 119-98
- Los Angeles Lakers – Atlanta Hawks 141-116
- Golden State Warriors – Portland Trail Blazers 119-97
NBA Standings (as of Tuesday):
Eastern Conference
- Detroit Pistons 28-10
- New York Knicks 25-14
- Boston Celtics 24-15
- Toronto Raptors 24-17
- Philadelphia 76ers 22-16
- Orlando Magic 22-18
- Cleveland Cavaliers 22-19
- Miami Heat 21-19
- Atlanta Hawks 20-22
- Chicago Bulls 18-21
- Milwaukee Bucks 17-23
- Charlotte Hornets 14-26
- Brooklyn Nets 11-26
- Washington Wizards 10-28
- Indiana Pacers 9-31
Western Conference
- Oklahoma City Thunder 34-7
- Denver Nuggets 27-13
- San Antonio Spurs 27-13
- Minnesota Timberwolves 27-14
- Los Angeles Lakers 24-14
- Houston Rockets 23-14
- Phoenix Suns 24-16
- Golden State Warriors 22-19
- Portland Trail Blazers 19-22
- Memphis Grizzlies 17-22
- Los Angeles Clippers 16-23
- Dallas Mavericks 15-25
- Utah Jazz 14-25
- Sacramento Kings 10-30
- New Orleans Pelicans 9-33
The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to lead the Western Conference with an impressive 34-7 record, while the Detroit Pistons hold the top spot in the East at 28-10. The league remains highly competitive as teams battle for playoff positioning as the season progresses.
