The Houston Rockets lamented a missed opportunity on Wednesday night. They can’t ask for a better chance to collect their first win during their current six-game road trip when they visit Detroit on Friday.
The Pistons have dropped to 3-35 while losing six straight. Detroit has lost 34 of its last 35 games.
The Rockets dropped back to .500 with a 124-119 overtime loss to the Bulls. Houston outscored Chicago 29-18 in the fourth quarter to force overtime but couldn’t finish off the comeback. The Bulls scored the last 10 points of the game.
Western Conference Player of the Week Alperen Sengun went scoreless in the first half, then erupted for 25 points.
The Rockets are missing two of their best defenders. Dillon Brooks is dealing with an oblique injury and Tari Eason is battling a lower leg ailment.
Houston has already defeated Detroit this month. Sengun had 26 points and nine assists in a 136-113 home victory on New Year’s Day.
The Rockets took control of that game by outscoring the Pistons 47-25 in the third quarter.
Detroit played catchup virtually its entire game against San Antonio, the Western Conference’s worst team, on Wednesday. The Spurs were up 63-51 at halftime and led by double digits throughout the second half.
The Pistons are playing without leading scorer Cade Cunningham, who is recovering from a left knee strain. Detroit was led on Wednesday by second-year center Jalen Duren, who had 21 points and 12 rebounds.
Counterpart Victor Wembanyama notched his first career triple-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in just 21 minutes.
Duren’s point total was his second highest this season.
