HOUSTON — Alperen Şengün delivered one of the most efficient scoring performances of his career Friday, November 13, pouring in 43 points to lift the Houston Rockets past the Utah Jazz 125–118 at Toyota Center. Şengün shot 17-for-24 from the floor, grabbed 12 rebounds and added five assists as Houston earned its third consecutive win. The outing was his second career 40-point game and his highest-scoring performance of the season, giving the Rockets a timely boost in NBA Cup group play.
Şengün’s combination of scoring, rebounding and efficiency placed him alongside franchise legends Hakeem Olajuwon and Yao Ming among Houston players to post at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while shooting 70 percent or better. That historical comparison is meaningful, but the game was far from comfortable. Utah erased a halftime deficit and briefly led by 10 in the third quarter. Houston answered with a surge behind Şengün and Fred VanVleet, yet the Jazz remained close deep into the fourth.
Kevin Durant contributed 22 points and made all 10 of his free throws, while VanVleet scored 17 and provided an important late basket. Darryn Peterson led Utah with 28 points, Keyonte George scored 27 and Ace Bailey added 21. Houston moved to 10–3, while the Jazz fell to 1–12 with an 11th consecutive loss. The narrow margin also leaves work to do for the Rockets in NBA Cup group standings, where point differential can matter. Houston visits Washington on Sunday, seeking another win without allowing an opponent to dictate the second-half tempo.