Simply two nights faraway from their first win of the 2024-25 season, the San Antonio Spurs will host the Houston Rockets once more on Monday evening. It’ll be the second of a two-game collection between the Texas rivals. The Spurs held onto a win in sport one, 109-106.
Victor Wembanyama dominated the earlier outing with 29 factors and seven rebounds. His associate in crime, Jeremy Sochan, had a double-double with 17 factors and 12 rebounds. They created points for Houston on each ends of the ground within the Spurs’ first win of the season. Recreation two can be about each groups adjusting to the opposite to discover a approach to win. For Houston, which means stepping up on the glass and discovering methods to decelerate the Spurs offense. San Antonio must take care of Jalen Inexperienced and the remainder of the Rockets’ offensive onslaught, which may warmth up immediately.
San Antonio faces a tough stretch of their schedule forward and would do effectively to return out of this two-game collection with a sweep. Houston will look to get again to .500 with a win on the street.
October 28, 2024 | 7:00 PM CT
Watch: Bally Southwest | Hear: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: Devin Vassell – Out (foot), Tre Jones – Out (ankle)
Rockets Accidents: Steven Adams – Questionable (knee), N’Faly Dante – Out (G League), Jack McVeigh – Out (G League), Nate Williams – Out (G League)
What to observe for:
Physicality
These two groups don’t appear to be keen on one another. Count on some physicality from each squads after a dust-up within the first sport of this collection. Profitable the bodily battle can be key to taking the matchup. San Antonio dominated the glass of their final contest. They’ll have to make good on that benefit once more on Monday evening.
Stephon Citadel’s minutes and protection
With Tre Jones possible lacking a number of video games, there is a chance for the rookie, Stephon Citadel, to grab some minutes. He performed 27 minutes on Saturday evening and made some large defensive performs. Houston even tried switching Citadel off of key ball-handlers utilizing screens late within the sport so they might assault the Spurs in isolation. Citadel’s protection is an asset and can be wanted in opposition to a tricky perimeter assault from Houston.
Tempo of play
The Spurs had been at their finest on Saturday once they pushed the tempo. Relentlessly transferring the ball and getting downhill in transition helped open up threes for guys like Julian Champagnie and made simple alternatives within the paint for Keldon Johnson and Jeremy Sochan. The Rockets can fill it up in a rush with all of their taking pictures. The Spurs might want to play rapidly as soon as once more to construct up a lead that may stand up to a counter-punch from Houston.
