HOUSTON, Texas — The Rockets are still perfect. Alperen Sengun piled up 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists Monday night at Toyota Center as Houston beat the Atlanta Hawks 120-110 to improve to 4-0 and finish a sweep of a home-and-home set with Atlanta.
The Rockets had won 121-114 in Atlanta on Saturday, and the rematch stayed tight into the fourth quarter. Atlanta led 66-63 at halftime after Houston missed 12 of its 16 three-point tries in the first half.
The Hawks pulled to 95-93 early in the fourth before Houston broke it open. Reed Sheppard hit a three, Jabari Smith Jr. dunked through a foul for a three-point play, and Sengun finished a transition dunk set up by Smith. Three-pointers from Tari Eason and Sheppard soon stretched the lead to 20.
Kevin Durant added 22 points and nine rebounds. Smith had 16 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, Amen Thompson scored 15, and Eason and Sheppard each scored 13 off the bench. Houston shot 53.1% from the field and scored 26 points in transition.
Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with 21 points and nine rebounds, and CJ McCollum scored 20 with four three-pointers. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 12 points and Luguentz Dort had 11 for the Hawks, who dropped both ends of the home-and-home set with Houston.
Houston again played without guard Marcus Smart, who has a forearm strain, and center Steven Adams, who has a strained leg muscle. Coach Ime Udoka said Smart could be back for the next game, while Adams will miss at least another week. The Rockets visit Milwaukee on Wednesday night.
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