SAN ANTONIO — In an intense matchup, Jalen Green showcased his scoring abilities by racking up 34 points, leading the Houston Rockets to a 106-101 victory against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.
Jabari Smith contributed significantly with 17 points, while Alperen Sengun delivered a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds for Houston.
This win allowed the Rockets to bounce back from a narrow 109-106 loss they suffered just two nights earlier against the same Spurs team, effectively wrapping up their two-game series in San Antonio.
On the Spurs’ side, Jeremy Sochan stood out with 22 points and nine rebounds, while Wembanyama contributed with 12 points and an impressive 18 rebounds.
**Key Moments**
For the Rockets, there was a moment of concern when they allowed the Spurs to score six points in a row, narrowing the game to 101-99 with only 36 seconds left on the clock.
However, veteran point guard Fred VanVleet, who had struggled in the game with a 3-for-13 shooting performance, stepped up and hit a critical 3-pointer with just 18 seconds remaining, securing his final tally at 11 points.
On the other hand, Spurs’ veteran Chris Paul became a key player with a surprising 16 points, a notable rise from just six points made during his first two games in San Antonio.
This marked his highest scoring performance since achieving 19 points against the Spurs back in March while playing for Golden State, although he only recorded three assists during this game after averaging 8.5 assists in the earlier matches of the season.
**Noteworthy Plays**
A highlight moment occurred during the third quarter for the Spurs, where they experienced an unfortunate drought, missing five consecutive shots on a single possession, with four attempts very close to the basket going awry.
Sochan kicked off the misfortunes by missing a floater, followed by Keldon Johnson’s unsuccessful 3-pointer.
Sochan attempted a hook shot but missed, and similarly, Zach Collins could not connect with his 3-pointer, sealing that poor possession with Sochan again missing a layup.
After the sequence of missed shots and failed rebounds, the Rockets seized the opportunity to take possession and fast-break down the court, ending in a hook shot made by Steven Adams.
**Shooting Struggles**
A key stat to note was the Spurs’ shooting slump; after an impressive 60% shooting in the first quarter of the last game, they dropped to a mere 32% performance in the opening period of this game on Monday night, finding themselves down 29-15.
**Looking Ahead**
As the season continues, the Rockets will head to Dallas for their next game on Thursday, while the Spurs are set to face Oklahoma City on Wednesday.