The Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder kicked off the NBA season with an instant classic on Tuesday night, as the Thunder edged out the Rockets in a dramatic double-overtime thriller, 125-124.
Coming off a long playoff run that ended with an NBA Championship, the Thunder were shaking off some rust, while the Rockets were clearly still adjusting to life without Fred VanVleet and integrating Kevin Durant into their lineup.
A major factor in keeping the Rockets competitive was Alperen Şengün, who delivered an absolutely monster performance. Şengün finished the game with an eye-popping stat line: 39 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists on 12-for-24 shooting from the field, including 5-for-8 from beyond the arc. His performance was historic, setting multiple records in the process.
According to StatMuse, Şengün became the first center in NBA history to record at least 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists while hitting five 3-pointers in a season opener. Additionally, Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press noted that Şengün is the first player at any position to post at least 39 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists in his team’s first game of the season.
The night came down to the wire as Şengün made what he thought would be the game-winning layup with just 15 seconds remaining. However, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander nailed a pair of clutch free throws with 2.3 seconds left to seal the victory for the Thunder.
While Şengün has long been known as a stat sheet stuffer, his production from beyond the arc was the most noteworthy aspect of his game on Tuesday. Last season, he converted just 23.3% of his 3-point attempts, taking slightly more than one per game. This offseason, he appears to have gained significant confidence in his outside shot, which, if sustained, could become a major asset for the Rockets’ offense.
By expanding his range, Şengün gives Rockets head coach Ime Udoka plenty of lineup options. In last season’s playoffs, Houston deployed a double-big lineup featuring Şengün alongside Steven Adams against a smaller Golden State Warriors squad. Maintaining that configuration during the regular season may be more challenging when both Adams and Amen Thompson are on the floor, but Şengün’s newfound 3-point shooting ability improves floor spacing and makes the lineup more viable.
Both the Thunder and the Rockets are expected to be contenders near the top of the Western Conference, setting the stage for an intense rivalry throughout the season. If Tuesday’s season opener is any indication, fans are in for one of the NBA’s most exciting matchups this year.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-alperen-sengun-stat-line-not-seen-nba-history