HOUSTON — In a commanding performance, the Houston Rockets secured a 127-100 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday evening, with both Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet contributing 21 points each. The Rockets established their dominance early on, never trailing throughout the match, and taking a substantial 25-point lead by halftime. With around six and a half minutes left on the clock, head coach Ime Udoka decided to clear the bench as the lead grew to 27 points.
Adding to the Rockets’ strong showing, Alperen Sengun chipped in with 16 points. This win marks Houston’s fourth in their last five games. VanVleet not only led in scoring, but he also achieved season-highs by amassing 10 assists and grabbing seven rebounds during the match.
On the other hand, the Spurs were dealt another defeat, marking their second consecutive loss. Victor Wembanyama recorded 15 points along with six rebounds and three blocks. This match marked the third straight game San Antonio played without their head coach Gregg Popovich, who is currently sidelined indefinitely due to health issues. Acting as interim coach, Mitch Johnson is stepping in while the 75-year-old Popovich did not accompany the team on this road trip.
A notable aspect of the game for the Spurs was the noticeable dip in their defensive performance, particularly in the absence of their top on-ball defender, Jeremy Sochan, who is out due to a fractured left thumb that requires surgery. Rookie Stephon Castle, who took Sochan’s starting position, will need to significantly elevate his game in light of Sochan’s likely extended absence.
For the Rockets, after struggling to maintain consistency in their previous two outings, they finally managed to play a unified and coherent game against the Spurs.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when the Rockets were ahead by seven points with about five minutes remaining in the first quarter. They executed a 7-0 run, highlighted by VanVleet’s contributions, to extend their lead to 22-8. Following this surge, the Spurs never managed to close the gap to fewer than 10 points.
In terms of statistics, the Rockets clearly outperformed the Spurs in the paint, outscoring them 66-46.
Looking ahead, the Spurs are set to host the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night, while the Rockets are preparing to visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday evening.