Rockets' Alperen Şengün Out for Final Two Games with Ongoing Ankle Injury

After going down with a major ankle injury in March, the Houston Rockets will play their final two games of the season without the services of Alperen Şengün.

Mar 10, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) before the / Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

HOUSTON -- Alperen Şengün was hoping he could return to the Houston Rockets' lineup before the end of the 2023-24 season. But with two games left, Şengün's season has ended.

Kelly Iko of The Athletic was the first to report that Şengün will not return for either of Houston’s final two games. Şengün sustained a season-ending knee and ankle injury during the closing seconds of the Rockets' 112-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings on March 10.

He came down awkwardly on his right leg while trying to contest a shot attempt by Domantas Sabonis. He was unable to walk following the fall and exited the Golden 1 Center in a wheelchair. He finished the game with 14 points on 7 of 14 shooting, six rebounds and three steals.

Mar 10, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) before the / Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Şengün's final game marked a heartbreaking end to the career year he was having amid his third season, averaging a career-best 21.2 points on 53.7 percent shooting, 9.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists across 63 games.

At the time of his injury, Şengün was in the middle of his best career stretch. He led the Rockets to a 3-1 record. His best performance came amid Houston's 114-101 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on March 5. Şengün posted a career-best 45 points against Victor Wembanyama. 

Twenty-four hours later, Şengün recorded his second-career triple-double of 23 points, 19 rebounds and 14 assists in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. 

Coach Ime Udoka declared ahead of the Rockets' 116-108 victory over the Orlando Magic Tuesday night that it was "unlikely" for Şengün to return. He said Şengün had begun doing "light mobility work" to keep the swelling in his ankle down. However, Şengün still felt pain in his wounded ankle.