Lakers vs. Rockets: Recoveries could be the deciding factor in the series
In the series between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers, recovery between games could prove decisive. Alperen Sengun’s comments ahead of Game 5
Despite trailing 1-3 in the series, the Houston Rockets have no intention of backing down. After avoiding a sweep in Game 4, Ime Udoka’s team is heading back to California for Game 5 with a clear goal: make life difficult for the Los Angeles Lakers and force the series back to Houston.
Leading the emotional charge for the young Rockets is Alperen Sengun, who played a key role in their first (and possibly only?) win of the series with 19 points and 6 rebounds.
The recovery factor, according to Sengun
Sengun analyzed Houston’s approach with confidence, pointing to physical recovery as the key to shifting the momentum of the matchup:
I’m ready. I know they’re going to hit hard, but we will too. We’re younger than them and probably recover faster. We’re going to go at each other, and at the end of the day we’ll see who’s still standing
Alperen Sengun
The Turkish center also emphasized the team’s morale is high after the Game 4 win, noting that the plan is to play with pace and aggression:
We’re not satisfied with just one win. We’re going back to L.A. to fight. In the last game we played with pace and forced them into a lot of turnovers. We’re still hungry and want to make them a little nervous
Alperen Sengun
Dominance in the paint
So far, the Lakers have struggled to contain Sengun, who is averaging 22.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. After a dominant showing in Game 4 and a 33-point performance in Game 3, the Turkish big man believes Houston can exploit Los Angeles where it hurts most: in the paint.
Jabari Smith Jr. echoed his teammate’s sentiment, stating that the Rockets feel like the better team overall, and that only a poor start to the series allowed the Lakers to build a 3-1 lead.
Will Durant play in Game 5?
To complete a historic comeback from 0-3 – something only 13 teams in NBA Playoff history have accomplished – Houston will need to turn words into a flawless Game 5 performance, likely once again without Kevin Durant.
The medical staff has already indicated that, despite ongoing treatment, the two-time NBA champion has not recovered from his ankle injury. Durant’s absence since Game 2 has heavily impacted Houston’s performances, forcing the team to lean on Sengun as its leader. Will it be enough to bring the series back to Texas?