The Houston Rockets are on a four-game win streak to start 2026. It’s a promising turn around from a perilous December that saw them go just 7-6. Their recent wins over bottom-of-the-standings lurkers may not seem important. However, the Rockets haven\u2019t been playing the same way they have been for most of the season. Are the Rockets showing us a glimpse of their true playoff potential?<\/p>\n
The Rockets defeated the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night<\/a>, 120-96. It was All-Star center Alperen Sengun<\/a>\u2019s first game back after missing the last two. But the team carried on playing more like it had done when he was out. In particular, it played through Kevin Durant<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sengun leads the Rockets in assists with 6.7 per game. However, even with the team\u2019s assist leader back in the starting lineup, and dishing six dimes of his own, Durant finished the game with a season-high 11. Partly, this was just a symptom of Brooklyn\u2019s ultra-aggressive defensive approach to Durant.<\/p>\n But Sengun was used less as an initiator than he had been before his hiatus. Against the Nets, most of his assists were spat out in transition. As for his 20 points, they came from a very mixed diet. There were post-ups and elbow isolation touches as normal. But a lot of his production came as a short roller or cutter after the ball handler had been swarmed. Naturally, Sengun still made sure to include plenty of Turkish flair.<\/p>\n