The Houston Rockets hosted the San Antonio Spurs in an I-10 rivalry game on Tuesday night. The Rockets stormed back to defeat the Spurs 111-106 at the Toyota Center. Houston improved to 26-15 and a three-game winning streak, while San Antonio fell to 30-14.
Reed Sheppard led the Rockets with 21 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists. Julian Champagnie led the Spurs with 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists.
In case you missed it, Houston dropped a 119-110 decision to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday. Jabari Smith Jr. led the Rockets with 32 points and 8 rebounds. Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 21 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists.
San Antonio defeated the Utah Jazz 123-110 at the Frost Bank Center on Monday. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 assist. Keyonte George led the Jazz with 30 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Houston Rockets vs. San Antonio Spurs Starters
Houston’s starting lineup featured Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Kevin Durant, Josh Okogie, and Jabari Smith Jr. Houston ruled out Fred VanVleet (torn ACL) and Steven Adams (ankle).
San Antonio’s starting lineup featured Champagnie, Wembanyama, Harrison Barnes, De’Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle. San Antonio ruled out Devin Vassell (adductor).
Fox, 28, is just one of three NBA players to have 12,000+ points, 3,000+ assists, and 800+ steals since 2017. The 28-year-old joins elite company, with Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and Los Angeles Clippers veteran James Harden.
Rockets vs. Spurs Recap
Tuesday’s game featured more than two Western Conference rivals but also an I-10 rivalry, due to the proximity of the two cities along Interstate 10, dating back to 1976. The two teams’ close games, passionate fanbases, and memorable moments shone bright since.
The first quarter saw a slow start, but shrugged things off. Champagnie nailed a corner three-pointer. Castle knocked down a step-back jumper. Sengun was dropping dimes. Josh Okogie showed rebounding with a handle above Wembanyama before finishing for the and-one. San Antonio took a 39-28 lead to end the first.
The second quarter saw an action-packed matchup. Wembanyama delivered a dunk over Clint Capela. Wembanyama, 22, also delivered a dunk over his NBA idol, Kevin Durant. Tari Eason stole the ball from Castle before finding Durant, who nailed a three-pointer. San Antonio took a 70-60 lead into halftime.
The third quarter saw significant action. Champagnie nailed a three-pointer to pick up where he left off. Luke Kornet threw down a reverse layup after receiving the ball from Dylan Harper via Stephon Castle. Capela impressed the home crowd with back-to-back buckets. San Antonio took a 92-82 lead through three quarters.
The fourth quarter shifted in favor of the Rockets. Houston went on a 9-0 run to impress the home crowd. San Antonio ended Houston’s run with a bucket past the midway point. Houston stormed back to earn a 111-106 win in regulation.
Next Steps
Houston begins a two-game road trip starting with the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. The Rockets’ resilience and adaptability can counter the 76ers’ potential challenges and situations.
San Antonio concludes a two-game road trip at the Utah Jazz on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Mountain. The Spurs’ strong defensive record can expose a potential Jazz slow start. The Spurs rank fourth in defensive rating over the last 10 games.
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