The Rockets head into Rockets Vs Bucks with a familiar problem suddenly becoming a bigger one: Alperen Sengun could miss a few games after imaging on his low back showed a mild strain. Ime Udoka said the team will be cautious, and that matters because Steven Adams is already out with a right soleus strain.
Sengun felt something in his back early in Monday’s 120-110 win over the Hawks, then played through it anyway for 37 minutes. He still produced 29 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and a career-high six steals, while shooting 11-of-15. After the game, he said his body felt great, but the scan that followed changed the picture.
Why the Rockets have to be careful
For Houston, this is not just about one player. The Rockets are already short at center, and losing Sengun for any stretch would force more rotation changes at exactly the wrong time. Wednesday’s game is expected to bring Clint Capela into the starting role, with Oscar Tshiebwe also among the options while the team manages the injury situation.
Udoka’s message was straightforward. The Rockets do not need to rush Sengun back, especially this early in the season. He has been one of their most reliable players through the first four games, averaging 24.5 points per game on 58% shooting, so the issue now is less about form and more about protecting what they have over the longer run.
Sengun still sounds confident
Sengun insisted he feels ready to keep playing, saying he feels pretty healthy and that he had a quiet summer before arriving fresh at training camp. He pointed to just two national team games in July, work with Walker Miller and Ohrun Güngören, and a strong diet program as part of why he feels at his best right now.
That confidence is useful, but it does not change the medical picture. Udoka has already signalled that Houston will take a careful approach, and that is the sensible call when the scan has shown a strain and the schedule is only getting busier.
Against the Bucks, the Rockets may have to lean on depth rather than continuity. If Sengun sits, the immediate focus will be on surviving the center minutes and keeping the team’s rhythm intact until he is cleared to return.
