Houston, Texas: Rockets Beat Bucks 132-100 to Reach 5-0 as VanVleet Scores 24 Without Sengun
Houston outscored Milwaukee 34-14 in the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on Wednesday night and won its fifth straight to open the season, with Fred VanVleet scoring 24 and Amen Thompson 23 on a night when Alperen Sengun sat out with low back soreness.
Key points
- The Houston Rockets stayed unbeaten on Wednesday night, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 132-100 at Fiserv Forum behind 24 points from Fred VanVleet and 23 from Amen Thompson.
- Houston led 23-21 after a first quarter in which it scored five points off six Milwaukee turnovers, then broke the game open in the second.
- Milwaukee scored just 14 points in the second quarter on 6 of 24 shooting, made only 2 of 13 three point tries, and attempted just one free throw in the first half, on a dead ball foul.
The Houston Rockets stayed unbeaten on Wednesday night, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 132-100 at Fiserv Forum behind 24 points from Fred VanVleet and 23 from Amen Thompson. Houston improved to 5-0 even with starting center Alperen Sengun sidelined by low back soreness, while Milwaukee fell to 1-4.
Houston led 23-21 after a first quarter in which it scored five points off six Milwaukee turnovers, then broke the game open in the second. The Rockets outscored the Bucks 34-14 in the quarter, shot 64.7 percent from the field, and took a 57-35 lead into halftime.
Second quarter decides it
Milwaukee scored just 14 points in the second quarter on 6 of 24 shooting, made only 2 of 13 three point tries, and attempted just one free throw in the first half, on a dead ball foul. The Bucks did not reach double figures in the quarter until 90 seconds remained. Houston pushed the lead to as many as 27 points in the third quarter and led 95-69 entering the fourth.
Backcourt carries the load
VanVleet shot 7 of 14 from the field, made four three pointers, went 6 for 6 at the line, and added six rebounds and five assists. Thompson scored his 23 points on 10 of 16 shooting. Kevin Durant added 18 points, five rebounds and three blocks, Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 16 off the bench, Jabari Smith Jr. had 14, and Clint Capela, taking the extra center minutes with Sengun and Steven Adams both out, finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.
As a team, Houston made 23 of 26 free throws, blocked 10 shots, collected 12 steals and scored 15 points off 17 Milwaukee turnovers. The Bucks shot 39.6 percent overall and 11 of 40 from three point range. Tyler Herro led Milwaukee with 23 points on 9 of 13 shooting, Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 19, and rookie Brayden Burries scored 10, most of them in the fourth quarter after the game had been decided.
A depth test passed
The win was the clearest depth test Houston has passed so far. Sengun, who had 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists against Atlanta on Monday, was ruled out before tipoff, and Adams remains out with a soleus strain. The Rockets still controlled the game with defense and balance, and six Houston players reached double figures. Houston continues its road trip on Friday, October 30, at Dallas. Milwaukee hosts Cleveland on October 31.
Timeline
- Oct 26, 2026Houston beats Atlanta 120-110 at home to reach 4-0. Alperen Sengun finishes with 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
- Oct 28, 2026Sengun is ruled out of the Milwaukee game with low back soreness. Steven Adams remains out with a soleus strain.
- Oct 28, 2026Houston outscores Milwaukee 34-14 in the second quarter to lead 57-35 at halftime, leads by as many as 27 in the third, and wins 132-100 at Fiserv Forum. VanVleet scores 24 and Thompson 23.
- Oct 30, 2026Houston continues its road trip at Dallas. Milwaukee hosts Cleveland on October 31.