Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün exited Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks and went to the locker room late in the fourth quarter with what appeared to be a lower‑back issue, The Athletic’s Will Guillory reported. Sengün left the court with 8:33 remaining in the final period after appearing to tweak his lower back, and he is considered questionable to return until the club provides further information.
The injury unfolded visibly as Sengün moved on the baseline and appeared to shorten his stride before heading directly to the Rockets’ bench and then to the locker room. There was no immediate official update from Houston at the time of Guillory’s report, leaving the team and fans waiting for postgame medical details and a clearer timeline for any further testing or treatment.
Şengün has established himself as a cornerstone of the Rockets’ frontcourt, known for his low‑post scoring, passing ability and rebounding since entering the league. Any absence by the 6‑foot‑11 center would force Houston to adjust rotations and interior matchups against a Bucks team that presses inside offensively and defensively. The degree of the lower‑back issue will determine whether the Rockets can count on him for the remainder of the contest and in the immediate slate of upcoming games.
The Rockets have not yet released a formal injury designation beyond the “questionable” tag reported by media. Standard procedure typically includes further evaluation by team medical staff and potentially imaging if symptoms persist, but the club’s next steps and whether Sengün will be made available for comment will be revealed in postgame updates or team announcements.
Şengün’s exit adds to a broader pattern this season in which key players across the NBA have missed time with various injuries, though each case varies widely in severity and recovery course. For the Rockets, the immediate concern is the remainder of Wednesday’s matchup and whether the team can maintain its defensive presence inside without its starting big man on the floor.
Further information is expected following the game when the Rockets provide their official injury reports and medical staff relay any findings. Until then, Sengün’s status remains uncertain and the team’s rotation plans for the short term could shift depending on the nature of the lower‑back issue.