Alperen Sengun was cleared off the Rockets' injury report Thursday, lifting the Day-To-Day tag he had carried since Sunday. He is set to play in Houston's season opener against the Thunder.
What happened
The Rockets listed Alperen Sengun as cleared on the injury report issued Thursday, Oct. 15 at 7:05 PM ET, removing the Day-To-Day designation he had carried since Sunday, Oct. 11, when he first appeared on the report with a rest-related issue. Thursday's report did not include further detail on the issue, and no return timeline was ever attached since he is now available. Center Steven Adams remains on the same report, also listed Day-To-Day with a rest designation.
What it means for the Rockets
Houston opens its 2026-27 season at home against Oklahoma City on Thursday at 8:30 PM ET on NBA TV, and Sengun is available for it. Last season he averaged 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists over 33.3 minutes across 72 games, the kind of workload that makes him the Rockets' primary frontcourt piece. Without him, Houston had been set to lean on Amen Thompson (37.4 minutes, 18.3 points) and Kevin Durant (36.4 minutes, 26.0 points), with Steven Adams (22.8 minutes, 5.8 points) covering center minutes. The Rockets are 0-0, since the season has not started.
What to watch
The next injury report will confirm whether Sengun's cleared status holds through the opener. No expected return date was ever announced, since the Day-To-Day tag has already been lifted. Steven Adams' own rest-related Day-To-Day listing is worth tracking as Houston's season begins against the Thunder.
Is Alperen Sengun playing vs Thunder?
Yes. He was cleared on the injury report issued Thursday, Oct. 15 at 7:05 PM ET, lifting the Day-To-Day tag he had carried since Oct. 11.
When will Alperen Sengun be back?
He is already back. The Rockets cleared him Thursday, and no absence or return timeline has been announced.