Alperen Sengun scores career-high 33 as Rockets lose 11th straight

With 11 straight losses and 16 in their last 17 games, overall, the young Houston Rockets are now tied for the NBA’s longest losing streak of the entire 2022-23 season after Monday’s 140-132 road setback (box score) against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Perennial All-Star forward and future Hall of Famer LeBron James led the Lakers (20-24) with a season-high 48 points on 16-of-26 shooting (61.5%), including 5-of-10 on 3-pointers (50.0%) and 11-of-12 on free throws (91.7%). James also had 9 assists and 7 rebounds.

But the Rockets (10-34) weren’t devoid of bright spots, starting with a career scoring night for second-year center Alperen Sengun.

Key offensive statistics for the Rockets, who collectively allowed a season-high point total for the 2022-23 year, included:

• Alperen Sengun: Career-high 33 points, 14-of-17 shooting (82.4%), 2-of-2 on 3-pointers; 16 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 blocks in 37 minutes
• Jalen Green: 23 points, 7-of-20 shooting (35.0%), 3-of-10 on 3-pointers (30.0%), 6-of-8 on free throws (75.0%); 5 rebounds, 3 assists in 39 minutes
• KJ Martin: 17 points, 7-of-14 shooting (50.0%), 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40.0%); 6 rebounds, 2 blocks in 30 minutes
• Jabari Smith Jr.: 14 points, 5-of-11 shooting (45.5%); 4 rebounds, 4 assists in 28 minutes
• Eric Gordon: 19 points, 5-of-11 shooting (45.5%), 9-of-11 on free throws (81.8%); season-high 8 assists in 32 minutes

Starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr. missed his third straight game with a left foot contusion, which he suffered last week in Sacramento.

Scroll on for Monday’s highlights, analysis, and postgame interview reaction from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Next up for Houston, with its four-game California road trip in the books, is Wednesday’s home game versus Charlotte. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m. Central.