Rockets HC Ime Udoka Says Alperen Sengun Is "Progressing Well" After Injury

The Matt Thomas Show

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka joins The Matt Thomas Show to recap the Rockets defeating the Washington Wizards 137-114 Tuesday on the road. The Rockets played "really good on the defensive end" and "buckled down in that third quarter," Udoka said. This was the Rockets sixth straight win. Guard Jalen Green tied his career-high with 42 points and has averaged 27.3 points in the last 10 games. Green is "reading everything at a fast pace now" and needs to continue to "stay confident and keep it simple" as he improves his game on both sides of the floor. Ever since Alperen Sengun went down with injury, Amen Thompson has joined the starting lineup and excelled, averaging 21 points and 9.7 rebounds in the past three games. Thompson is "understanding how he can impact the game," and his success as a starter is "not surprising with his size and his athleticism." Sengun suffered a severely sprained ankle and bruised knee during the final minutes of a victory over the Sacramento Kings on March 10. MRI scans show that Senguin will not require surgery, and he has already been seen without a walking boot. "He's progressing well" and allowing "the swelling and bruising" to heal. Udoka could not confirm if Sengun would be able to return before the end of the season as the Rockets are currently 2.5 games out of the Play-In Tournament. Cam Whitmore has also be sidelined with a right knee sprain, but Udoka says the rookie is walking "with no limp" and "getting shots up already." Prior to the trade deadline, the Rockets acquired Steven Adams from the Memphis Grizzlies, and Adams was with the team Tuesday as he is completing rehab in Washington, D.C. "It's great to have him around the guys."