Tonight’s Texas showdown loses a bit of its punch before the opening tip. As the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets collide on the second night of a back-to-back, Houston will be without one of its biggest weapons. Star center Alperen Sengun won’t suit up, ruled out with an illness just hours before the rivalry meeting at American Airlines Center.
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The Turkish phenom had been listed as questionable earlier in the day, but his status took a downturn as tipoff approached. He also missed the Rockets’ last game against the Suns—his first absence of the season—with Steven Adams stepping in to anchor the paint.
Alperen Sengun (illness) ruled out Saturday.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) December 7, 2025
Today, however, the team faces a much bigger injury report. Adams is also joining Sengun on the bench tonight, sitting with an ankle injury.
Alperen Sengun began feeling ill around December 4 or 5, 2025, leading to his late addition to the Houston Rockets’ injury report as questionable for their December 5 game against the Phoenix Suns, which he ultimately missed as a late scratch.
Sengun was a late addition to the injury report on December 4 ahead of the Suns game, upgraded from available to questionable before being ruled out.
No prior illness mentions appear in reports, confirming symptoms emerged just before the back-to-back games starting December 5.
Apart from the big men, the team will also miss wings Dorian Finney-Smith and Tari Eason, who have been forced to sit for extended periods due to an ankle and oblique injury each, but are trending towards a return soon.
Sengun has been having a career season this year, with career-high averages in points (23.1) as well as assists (7.1), taking on a majority of the playmaking duties in Fred VanVleet’s absence due to the offseason ACL tear.
Despite the Rockets not having a traditional point guard, the team has been one of the top 3 offenses in the league, thanks to Sengun’s leap in playmaking and long-range shooting.
The Mavericks aren’t faring too well either. The team is missing both Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively, leaving the team without its two best centers.
In their place, Anthony Davis is being forced back to center, and the team is likely to roll out a smaller lineup. The team is also missing sharpshooter Klay Thompson.
Starting Lineups for Mavericks-Rockets Without Alperen Sengun
With Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams out, the Rockets are starting Amen Thompson and reserve Josh Okogie at the guard positions, Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. at forward, and reserve Clint Capela at the center position.
The team’s depth is heavily depleted, and little-used veteran Jeff Green is expected to get significant playing time tonight alongside Reed Sheppard and Aaron Holiday.
Imago
Jan 3, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) reacts after a foul call against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
The Dallas Mavericks are starting undrafted standout Ryan Nembhard at guard alongside Naji Marshall, with Cooper Flagg and PJ Washington at forward and Anthony Davis starting at center.
The team has won three of its last four games, but Anthony Davis is already nursing a finger injury as well as a hard knee hit suffered during the Mavs’ previous game against the OKC Thunder.
Davis was held to 1-9 shooting against the Thunder, but the team has been encouraging lately, especially with Nembhard’s emergence. The guard had 28 points and 10 assists against the Denver Nuggets, and 15 points and 13 assists against the Miami Heat.
Flagg has also turned it around after a slow start, including 35 points, 24 points, and 22 points in consecutive games against the LA Clippers, Nuggets, and Heat.
Now, with Houston’s frontcourt cut short with Sengun missing time, only time will tell how the matchup between these two teams will shape up.
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