Atlanta Hawks 110–120 Houston Rockets: match recap

Match recap

Rockets withstood a balanced Hawks attack, riding Alperen Sengun's near triple-double and a dominant +14 rebounding margin to a 120-110 win. Houston's bench provided 33 points, while Atlanta's Jalen Johnson and C.J. McCollum kept the visitors within range until the fourth quarter.

From the opening tip, Houston owned the glass, grabbing 47 rebounds to Atlanta's 33, a disparity that translated into extra possessions and second-chance opportunities. Alperen Sengun orchestrated the offense with 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists, while Kevin Durant added 22 points and 9 boards. Atlanta countered with Jalen Johnson (21 points, 9 rebounds) and C.J. McCollum (20 points on 4-of-7 from deep), but the Hawks never led after the first quarter. The Rockets' bench, led by Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard (13 points each), stretched leads whenever Atlanta threatened, and Houston's 3-point shooting (32.0%) was just enough ahead of Atlanta's 26.3% to keep the visitors at arm's length. Despite dead-even shooting efficiency and ball security, Houston's rebounding advantage and home floor comfort tipped the form comparison decisively, with the model share reading 71.3–28.7 in the Rockets' favor.

Key factors

• Houston dominated the boards 47–33, generating 14 extra possessions that fueled a 120-point night.
• Alperen Sengun's 29-8-9 line orchestrated the Rockets' offense, creating high-percentage looks while committing zero turnovers.
• Atlanta's bench outscored Houston's 35–33, but the Hawks' starters, particularly Dyson Daniels (4 points), couldn't keep pace with Houston's balanced scoring.

The Analyst's take

The numbers point to a Houston team that can weaponize rebounding differentials to overcome even shooting splits; with Sengun as a fulcrum, the Rockets' offense has multiple creators. Atlanta will need to address its defensive rebounding and get more from its backcourt—Dyson Daniels' 4 points on 27 minutes is a hole the Hawks can't afford nightly. Both teams have clear growth areas, but Houston's current form, with a 71.3% model share in this comparison, suggests they are better placed to exploit opponents' weaknesses right now.