The Houston Rockets will aim to keep their winning streak alive when they face the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. This matchup is the first of two games between the teams in three nights in San Antonio.
The Rockets head to San Antonio after a 128-108 victory at home against Memphis on Friday, which was the first game of a back-to-back. All five of Houston’s starters, along with two other players, scored in double digits during the win. Jalen Green led the team with 22 points. Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. each recorded double-doubles, with Sengun scoring 16 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, and Smith scoring 14 points with 16 rebounds.
Dillon Brooks added 18 points for the Rockets, Fred VanVleet contributed 16 points, Tari Eason scored 13, and Cam Whitmore had 11 points. This win came after Houston let an 18-point lead slip away in their season-opening loss to Charlotte on Wednesday.
Houston took charge of Friday’s game with a strong 31-7 run to finish the third quarter. They were trailing 76-73 with 6:34 left in the third but scored the next 11 points to take the lead, ending the quarter at 98-83.
One important aspect for the Rockets this season is maintaining a fast pace, which starts with strong defensive rebounding. The health of center Steven Adams, who is recovering from a left calf strain, is crucial for this plan.
Adams missed the first two games and is “literally day to day, game to game,” according to Houston coach Ime Udoka.
Adams sat out all of last season after having right knee surgery in October 2023, but he did play a limited role in three of Houston’s preseason games.
“It’ll be gradual as far as having to have reminders, and certain guys do it naturally,” Udoka told The Athletic. “But we want to encourage everybody to rebound, push, run, and fill in the lanes. (We need) our guys to get out and take advantage of our speed and athleticism.
“When we (pushed the pace) in certain games during the preseason, it looked good. Some of the things we’re trying to stress will be constant reminders until it becomes second nature.”
The Spurs are back in San Antonio for their home opener after losing 120-109 at Dallas on Thursday. Julian Champagnie and Jeremy Sochan led the Spurs with 18 points each in the loss, while Victor Wembanyama and Harrison Barnes each added 17 points. Wembanyama also had nine rebounds, leading the Spurs, but had a tough time shooting, making just 5 of 18 attempts.
Chris Paul, who like Barnes played in his first regular season game for San Antonio, scored only three points but also had eight assists and seven rebounds.
“I loved the fight that we showed,” Paul said afterward. “There are no moral victories, but we played against a team that went to the Western Conference Finals and won and went to the (NBA) Finals. I’m excited about the Spurs that I have seen, and I know what is capable from our team.”
Paul (1 of 4) and Wembanyama (1 of 8) together shot 2-of-12 from three-point range in the loss.
“I think we had some really great basketball moments and some really bad ones,” Wembanyama said.
