Facing the NBA’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year on the road, Alperen Sengun made several key plays late versus Evan Mobley in Houston’s 114-104 victory (box score) at Cleveland.
The Rockets (10-3) have won five straight games and 10 of their last 11, overall, while the Cavaliers (10-6) cooled off after winning seven of their previous nine.
Houston led by as many as 22 points in the third quarter before Cleveland cut the margin to as little as a point in the fourth. But in that decisive final frame, the Rockets scored 40 points, including 26 from Sengun (12) and Aaron Holiday (14). That improbable fourth-quarter duo combined to make 7-of-9 shots (77.8%) from the field while going 9-of-9 from the free-throw line, and Holiday also made 3-of-4 from 3-point range.
That helped the Rockets withstand a fourth-quarter onslaught from Cavs star Donovan Mitchell, who had 19 points in the frame on 7-of-10 shooting (70.0%) and 3-of-6 from 3-point range (50.0%).
Alpi led the team to our 5th straight win with a double-double in Cleveland!
📊 28 PTS | 11 REB | 7 AST pic.twitter.com/ojhQ79F790
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) November 20, 2025
For the game, key stats for both teams went as follows:
- Alperen Sengun: 28 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 turnovers; 10-of-17 shooting (58.8%), 8-of-10 on free throws (80.0%)
- Kevin Durant: 20 points, 3 assists, 4 turnovers; 6-of-18 shooting (33.3%), 1-of-6 on 3-pointers (16.7%), 7-of-8 on free throws (87.5%)
- Aaron Holiday: 18 points in 19 minutes; 5-of-7 shooting (71.4%), 3-of-5 on 3-pointers (60.0), 5-of-5 on free throws
- Jabari Smith Jr.: 14 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists; 5-of-12 shooting (41.7%), 3-of-6 on 3-pointers (50.0%)
- Amen Thompson: 12 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, 1 turnover; 6-of-14 shooting (42.9%)
- Reed Sheppard: 12 points, 2 assists; 5-of-11 shooting (45.5%), 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40.0%)
- Donovan Mitchell (Cavs): 21 points, 3 rebounds; 8-of-17 shooting (47.1%)
- Evan Mobley (Cavs): 18 points, 6 rebounds; 7-of-13 shooting (%3.8%)
- De’Andre Hunter: 25 points, 4 rebounds; 6-of-11 shooting (54.5%), 5-of-8 on 3-pointers (62.5%), 8-of-8 on free throws
“I never back down from anybody,” Sengun said of his matchup versus Mobley, Jarrett Allen (8 points, 7 rebounds), and the physical Cavaliers, who owned the NBA’s second-best record (64-18) last season. “Doesn’t matter, even if they’re the best defender in the league. Clutch time, I’m just going to go to the rim and get my shot, and finish the game.”
Sengun spoke postgame with Vanessa Richardson of Space City Home Network.
Next up for the Rockets is a return home to Houston, which will host an important Emirates NBA Cup 2025 matchup on Friday night versus Denver (10-3). Tipoff is at 8:30 p.m. Central, and the matchup will be televised nationally on Prime Video.
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: ‘I never back down’: Rockets top Cavs as Alperen Sengun takes over
