Turkish center Sengun added 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Rockets, who stretched their win streak to five games, while reserve Aaron Holiday scored 14 of his 18 in the fourth quarter to silence a Cavs rally.
De’Andre Hunter led Cleveland with 25 points while Donovan Mitchell scored 19 of his 21 points in the fourth for the Cavs, who got 18 points from Evan Mobley, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year who couldn’t contain Sengun.
“I never back down from anybody,” Sengun said. “Doesn’t matter best defender in the league, anybody. “At clutch time, I’m just going to go through him. I’m just going to get my shot and just finish the game.”
Cleveland ended the third quarter on a 23-5 run to pull within 74-70 and Mitchell revived in the final 12 minutes, but the Rockets would not be denied.
Oklahoma City improved to a league-best 15-1 — and 7-0 at home — with reigning Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 33 points and grabbed eight rebounds to push their win streak to seven games.
Chet Holmgren added 21 points and seven rebounds for OKC, who inflicted a seventh consecutive loss upon Sacramento.
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, meanwhile, had a triple-double to power the Denver Nuggets to a 125-118 victory at New Orleans.
The 30-year-old Serbian center had 28 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists, while Peyton Watson added 32 points and 12 rebounds for the Nuggets.
Indiana snapped an eight-game losing streak as Bennedict Mathurin had 24 points and 12 rebounds while Pascal Siakam added 22 points and seven assists for the Pacers in a 127-118 home victory over Charlotte. (AFP)
