bleacherreport
In a tightly contested matchup on Friday night, the Houston Rockets secured a 114-110 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, remaining undefeated at 2-0 to start the season. The Spurs, who were seeking their first win after an opening loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback but ultimately fell short.
Houston had opened its campaign with a win over the Dallas Mavericks and looked to keep its perfect record intact. San Antonio, meanwhile, was still searching for its first victory after dropping its opener 116-104 to the Thunder.
After trailing for the majority of the game, the Spurs surged in the final period, tying the score and setting up a dramatic finish. However, Alperen Sengun ignited an 8-3 run to put the Rockets back ahead, and Amen Thompson sealed the win with a crucial block on Victor Wembanyama in the closing moments.
Key Analysis
Houston's balanced attack proved decisive, with Sengun leading the way at 29 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Amen Thompson contributed 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Kevin Durant added 20 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. The Rockets' ability to execute down the stretch, highlighted by Thompson's defensive play, underscored their poise in a hostile environment.
For San Antonio, Wembanyama posted a double-double with 25 points and 13 rebounds, adding two blocks. De'Aaron Fox chipped in 19 points and nine assists, and Dylan Harper provided a spark off the bench with 20 points. Despite the loss, the Spurs showed resilience in nearly erasing a deficit that had plagued them for much of the night.
The Rockets held a narrow two-point lead at halftime, fueled by 11 points each from Thompson and Sengun, while Durant had 10. Wembanyama led all scorers with 17 before the break, and Fox added 10 for San Antonio. Houston carried an 85-81 advantage into the fourth quarter.
In the final frame, the Spurs clawed back, outscoring the Rockets 11-3 to tie the game at 96 with just over six minutes remaining, and briefly took the lead on Dylan Harper free throws. But Sengun's timely run and Thompson's block ensured Houston would escape with the win.
Houston will next travel to face the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET, while San Antonio will visit the Dallas Mavericks at 8 p.m. ET.
Originally reported by bleacherreport.