The Houston Rockets were without Kevin Durant, plus the Indiana Pacers didn’t make things easier. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Pacers were ahead by two, and Bennedict Mathurin thwarted Alperen Sengun’s attempt with extra force. The Turkish center didn’t like it one bit, while the Canadian guard tried nonchalantly to smooth things over, but it only boiled over.

Sengun didn’t like the elbow sent his way and was mad, so he shoved the Pacers guard, and then Mathurin shoved back. While the players and officials were there to separate the two, the coaches on the bench rushed to ensure things didn’t turn ugly. Even when everyone played the role of a peacemaker, Alperen Sengun continued his verbal barrage and ultimately walked off.

The referees had no other choice but to issue double technicals to both stars. After the stoppage, Mathurin walks right by Sengun at the foul line, and the two jawed off. The Pacers guard kept smiling, meaning he enjoyed the tough showdown. On the next trip, the Pacers gave the ball to Mathurin, who hit a jumper over Sengun, clearly both stars were not backing down.

Despite the Pacers being a 13-37 team, the Rockets’ largest lead in the entire game was just 12 points. Houston ultimately won 114-118, as they relied on Alperen Sengun, and he got the job done.

This was Alperen Sengun’s first game after an All-Star omission. The decision baffled the netizens on social media, and his performance tonight only helped his cause. Dropping a monster double-double of 39 points and 16 rebounds (both tied for season high), along with his clinical efficiency in converting 13 of his 25 attempts.

The Rockets tonight were without Durant. Just before the game, coach Ime Udoka dropped a concerning update. KD tweaked his ankle during the Rockets game on Saturday after stepping on a fan’s foot. For now, it seems there is no long-term injury, as the Rockets are expecting it to be just a one-game absence.

Was Alperen Sengun’s All-Star snub justified?

When the five starters were announced from the East and the West, Sengun had incredible support. He received 15 player votes, 1,430,020 total fan votes, which made him the tenth most voted player in the West, and got just 1 media vote. He has even improved as a defender and has better stats across the board.

The 23-year-old Turkish center is averaging 21/9/6 on 50% shooting and leads the NBA among centers in steals and blocks per game. So, fans were expecting him to be part of the All-Star reserve selection, but the coaches didn’t favor him. It was OKC’s Chet Holmgreen who was the reserve center selected ahead of the Rockets star.

That’s why fans remain upset over his snub. It was not the only time the league snubbed him. Last year, despite the All-Star selection, Alperen Sengun couldn’t find a place on any All-NBA teams. In the All-NBA team voting after the season ended, the Rockets center finished with 40 third-team votes and six second-team votes, tallying him at 58 total voting points. That would make him the closest player to landing All-NBA honors beyond the 15 who earned the distinction.

Clearly, the snubs only fuel Alperen Sengun’s drive to perform better. Against the Pacers, he showed the signs of a true leader and delivered for the team.