HOUSTON (AP) — Alperin Sengun scored 43 points and pulled down 12 rebounds as the Houston Rockets held off Utah 125-118 in NBA Cup play Friday night, handing the Jazz their 11th consecutive loss.

It was Sengun’s second career 40-point game, and he did it on an efficient 17 of 24 from the floor. The Rockets (10-3) needed the boost with Kevin Durant — 22 points on 5 of 14 from the field — having a tough shooting night. Sengun’s other 40-point game came in 2024 when he posted a career-high 45 against the San Antonio Spurs.

The teams were tied at 27 after the first quarter, but Sengun’s nine points in the second helped the Rockets take a 63-53 lead into halftime.

The Jazz (1-12) made a dent in the deficit, with Keyonte George scoring 10 of his 27 points in the third quarter to cut Houston’s advantage to 92-89 after three.

Utah was able to keep it close the rest of the way, getting within two possessions in the final minute, but Durant iced the game with a pair of free throws in the closing seconds.