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<\/p>\nHOUSTON (OnSI)- The Rockets are 4-0 for the first time in 12 years after Monday\u2019s 120-110 win over the Hawks. After trailing by three at halftime, the Rockets took control late in the third quarter and opened the fourth quarter with an 18-8 burst.<\/p>\n
Here are three takeaways from an impressive home win:<\/p>\n
Defense picks up the slack<\/p>\n
Led by 15 points from CJ McCollum and 14 points from Jalen Johnson, the Hawks scored 66 points in the first half. Atlanta shot 49% as a team. McCollum was 6 of 8 from the field, while Johnson was only 3 of 8 but made 7 of 8 free throws.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt like we were just following them around,\u201d Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said. \u201cDidn\u2019t bring a lot of physicality to it. Not a lot of communication at times. Losing McCollum and certain guys in transition, getting wide open looks. It was a point of emphasis at halftime.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Hawks scored just 19 points on 32% shooting in the third quarter, and 44 points on 37% shooting for the half. McCollum finished with five points on 2 of 8 shooting after halftime, while Johnson was just 2 of 6.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Udoka attributed the defensive improvement to simply getting back to basics.<\/p>\n
\u201cWent back to more traditional coverage. Put (Alperen Sengun) on the five, and I think that helped us,\u201d Udoka said.<\/p>\n
Alperen Sengun dominates the paint<\/p>\n
Sengun drained a three on his very first shot attempt of the night. All 14 of his shots that followed came from the paint, and the Rockets center converted on 10 of them. Against the Hawks, Sengun finished with 29 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, and 6 steals.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was huge,\u201d Udoka said. \u201cHe carried us through a good stretch of the third. Really got himself going. Six steals, and he was all over the place. He was a dog down there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sengun is averaging 24.5 points on 58% shooting through the first four games of the season. He\u2019s shooting 77% inside the restricted area, after converting on 68% and 65% on those shots the last two seasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt helps that we have more spacing around him,\u201d Rockets forward Kevin Durant said. \u201cBut teams are playing him 1-on-1 in the post, at the elbow thinking that they can stop him. They must\u2019ve read a lot of bad articles about him this summer. They feel like they can get a stop on him 1-on-1, and we love that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rockets guard Fred VanVleet joked his return is another reason for Sengun\u2019s hot start, and he isn\u2019t wrong. Without VanVleet, Sengun would have to initiate offense himself. Now, VanVleet can initiate the Rockets offense, which allows Sengun to focus on getting to his spots.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year I had to do all that stuff,\u201d Sengun said. \u201cNow I can get the rebound, give it to Fred, run and get to my spot. We play faster too. I don\u2019t have to run back and forth, back and forth. I get the rebound, we push the ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cI save a lot of energy with that, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Oct 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) is congratulated by guard Reed Sheppard (15) after a made basket against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n
Transition brilliance<\/p>\n
The Rockets finished with nine fast break points against the Hawks on Saturday night, but they should\u2019ve had more.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t run out in transition as much as we should have,\u201d Durant said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Rockets finished with 26 fast break points on Monday, and are averaging 21.5 fast break points per game, third most in the league, after averaging 14 last season. The Hawks only had 13 turnovers, but 11 came off steals, and the Rockets took advantage when they could.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose live ball turnovers, we\u2019re getting out (in transition),\u201d Udoka said. \u201cThat was another emphasis of ours, how we were poor at times in transition in the past and kind of cleaning those up, but I just think it\u2019s a result of guys being more confident\u00a0with the handle and the pass, and it feels like we just have more options as far as leading the break, playing with that fast pace, and our guys are getting out running.\u201d<\/p>\n
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