Rockets Fall to Mavericks as Sengun Suffers Ankle Sprain

In Dallas, the Houston Rockets suffered a 110-104 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night, but the defeat was overshadowed by a first-quarter injury to star center Alperen Sengun that forced him out of the game for good.

Less than two minutes into the matchup at American Airlines Center, Sengun challenged Mavericks center Daniel Gafford for a defensive rebound. As he came down, Sengun landed awkwardly on Gafford's foot, twisting his right ankle. He immediately grabbed at the injury while sitting on the court, then limped to the bench before heading to the locker room for evaluation. The Rockets initially listed him as questionable to return, but ruled him out at halftime. Team officials confirmed the sprain but provided no further timeline, saying imaging would determine the severity.

The 22-year-old Turkish center, who earned his first All-Star selection last season, has been a cornerstone of Houston's strong start to the year. Entering the game, he was averaging career highs of 22.6 points per game, second on the team only to Kevin Durant, along with a team-leading 9.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists. His absence could disrupt the Rockets' rhythm; they entered the contest with...