Doncic drops 40, but Sengun fires back: “Just luck”
The Lakers win convincingly, but Sengun downplays it: according to the Rockets big man, the outcome came down to moments and tough shots late
The matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets wasn’t just about on-court entertainment, but also postgame sparks. Despite a sensational performance from Luka Doncic, Turkish center Alperen Sengun downplayed the purple and gold’s win, openly attributing it to… luck.
Doncic and LeBron lead the Lakers
The Lakers’ 124-116 win was built on a nearly perfect offensive night. Luka Doncic flirted with a 40-point triple-double, finishing with 40 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds, shooting efficiently from both the field and beyond the arc.
Alongside him, LeBron James delivered an unreal display of efficiency: 30 points on 13-of-14 shooting, virtually flawless. A combined 70-point effort that proved decisive in key moments.
Sengun pushes back: “They got lucky”
Still, in the postgame, Alperen Sengun offered a different perspective. According to the Rockets big man, the game came down to details – and a certain degree of randomness:
We changed our defense and they made tough shots. It was the first time we did that… I think we did a good job, but down the stretch we weren’t lucky
Alperen Sengun
Sengun went into more detail, referencing the clutch baskets late:
They made a lot of threes, even tough ones. At the end Rui hit some… let’s say difficult threes. Sometimes it happens, sometimes you’re lucky
Alperen Sengun
The reference was to Rui Hachimura, who knocked down several key shots in the final minutes.
The Turkish big also highlighted the team’s offensive progress, particularly in getting Kevin Durant involved in the second half:
In the first half we couldn’t get him the ball, in the second we did. That’s why he’s here: he can score in any situation
Alperen Sengun
Standings and playoff outlook
The win pushes the Lakers to 44-25, solidifying their hold on third place in the Western Conference. The Rockets fall to 41-27, still firmly in the race.
With fewer than 15 games remaining, a potential playoff matchup between the two teams is far from unlikely. And Sengun’s comments may have already lit the fuse.