HOUSTON -- With 7 points on just 3-of-11 shooting (27.3%), Rockets center Alperen Sengun struggled offensively in Thursday's home loss to the Hornets.
It was the second consecutive night that Houston (31-19, No. 4 in Western Conference standings ) lost by double digits to a road underdog. Though the Rockets remain the NBA's best rebounding team this season , they were beaten on the glass in both games.
And against Charlotte, Sengun also went through his share of struggles on defense — as noted by both All-Star forward Kevin Durant and head coach Ime Udoka .
"There's no fight, no aggression," Udoka said postgame from Toyota Center. "In the past, if we didn't win or weren't going to win, at least we would get into it and do something about it. Right now, it's the same mistakes over and over and over."
In his subsequent interview, Sengun was asked by Jackson Gatlin ( Locked on Rockets ) about why he and the 2025-26 Rockets often have concurrent issues on both sides of the ball.
While last season's Rockets were 2.7 points better in net defensive rating with Sengun playing, this season's Rockets are a staggering 7.9 points worse .
As part of his answer, Sengun quickly pointed to one variable that changed, and that's the availability of Fred VanVleet ( ACL tear ).
Among Sengun's comments:
The difference is Fred. Last year, we were struggling at some points, and Fred would settle us down and talk to us. I mean, Amen (Thompson) is still doing a great job this season, and Reed (Sheppard) is doing a great job, but the Fred effect was big. Just talking to us and giving the ball to us wherever we want. We're definitely missing him.
But, you know, we have a lot of young players. We're all learning. I'm learning. We have Kevin now, one of the best offensive players in history. So, I think if you look at the difference, I would say it's much more Freddy.
After those back-to-back losses, Houston enters the weekend only a game ahead of the Phoenix Suns (31-21) for the No. 7 seed, which would mean having to go through the West play-in tournament in order to make the 2026 playoffs.
But with 32 games left to play in the regular season, the Rockets are trying not to look that far ahead.
"We can't let this dive us deeper into the abyss of just, like negative s—," Durant said. "I could talk all day about what we should be doing, or mentality, or how you feel. It doesn't really matter. We've just got to go out there and do our job."
It starts with players like Sengun, an All-Star just one year ago. In 15 games since returning from a sprained ankle on Jan. 11 , the 23-year-old big man from Turkey is shooting just 46.6% from the field — and that might be contributing to his defensive downturn, as well.
"It's tough when a lot of guys are slumping," Udoka said. "But you still have to make plays for others, not just worry about shooting being the only way you impact the game. You can still make plays, and then you have to defend, as well."
In wrapping up his interview, Sengun took responsibility.
"Before everyone, I've got to look in the mirror and come and play every night like an All-Star," Şengün said. "Play like our best player on the court, that's how I've got to play."
More: 'Embarrassed': Ime Udoka rips Rockets after bizarre loss to Boston
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Defensive regression: Rockets, Alperen Sengun searching for answers
