Sources: Rockets’ Sengun avoids major leg injury

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun escaped serious injury to his lower right leg, suffering a severely sprained ankle and a bruised knee, sources told ESPN on Monday.

After getting wheeled off the court late in Houston’s win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night, Sengun underwent postgame X-rays and an MRI on Monday that revealed his injuries wouldn’t require surgery, sources said.

Sengun, 21, hasn’t yet been ruled out for the final month of the season, but there’s significant healing that would need to occur before he could be cleared to play again before the regular season concludes on April 14, sources said.

Sengun has been one of the league’s breakout players this season and established himself as a cornerstone for the franchise.

The 16th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, Sengun is averaging 21 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5 assists on 53% shooting. He’s one of five players with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 300 assists this season, along with Milwaukee‘s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dallas‘ Luka Doncic, Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis and Denver‘s Nikola Jokic.

Sengun scored a career-high 45 points against the San Antonio Spurs last week, becoming the fifth player all-time with 45 points, 15 rebounds and 5 steals in a game.

ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this report.