The Spurs form of snuck up on a drained Rockets workforce on the second evening of a back-to-back on Sunday evening and constructed up an insurmountable lead within the first half that the Rockets nearly overcame by taking part in more durable and harder within the second half, ultimately falling quick because the Spurs held on for a 109-106 win. Tonight, the Rockets didn’t await the second half to begin urgent the difficulty, and so they dominated the flat Silver and Black for a 17 level halftime lead.
Tonight’s recreation was nearly a mirror picture, because the Spurs have been the harder workforce within the second half, and took over within the ultimate quarter as their bench plus Victor took over the sport. They couldn’t fairly take the lead because the Rockets hit key pictures to blunt the comeback. The Spurs nearly pulled off a miracle with a six level possession within the ultimate minute, however Van Vleet hit a clutch three-point bucket to shut it out because the Rockets held on for a 106-101 win.
Observations
Fanduel has taken over the native broadcasts from Bally and the studio and graphics look quite a bit higher. I assume they’re not fairly as broke as Bally, who was always on the verge of chapter.
The Rockets have been slightly sluggish to begin the sport on Sunday, however tonight they have been sharp to begin and surged out to an early 14-3 lead. The Spurs reserves got here and stabilized issues a bit, with issues getting slightly chippy with a double tech between Sochan and Jabari Smith Jr. that ended up within the dreaded double technical foul.
Collins is discovering a spot as an enforcer off the bench. He’s not probably the most expert participant, however he makes a distinction when he’s taking part in arduous.
Wemby’s means to erase pictures when he seems to be like he’s utterly out of the play is unreal. He didn’t have an excellent offensive recreation tonight, however he was spectacular in each different means as he stuffed the stat sheet.
The Houston protection dominated the primary quarter as they led 29-15 on the break.
It looks as if a very long time in the past that Steven Adams was good.
Jalen Inexperienced went nuclear within the first half with 24 factors, because the Rockets led 62-45 on the half.
The Spurs protection wasn’t horrible, however the Rockets crashed the offensive boards and took benefit of the extensive open shot on second and third alternatives.
I feel this workforce misses Tre Jones coming off the bench.
Sochan took a touch from Olivia Newton-John and obtained bodily because the second half began. We may hear his physique discuss as he took the ball to the basket and shoved it into the ring.
Dillon Brooks is a goon, however he’s additionally a great basketball participant. I need to hate him, however it’s important to respect his recreation.
In a sequence that epitomized the Spurs struggles within the recreation, they’d a possession with 5 pictures within the third quarter and missed all of them.
The Spurs appeared useless midway by the third however completed with a flurry as they trailed 87-75 with 12 minutes to play, led by their bench.
Stephon Citadel is so spectacular for a participant in his third professional recreation.
Don’t surrender on Malaki Branham.
Champagnie sat for defensive causes for a lot of the fourth quarter on Sunday, however Pop saved him within the lineup tonight and he responded with some good defensive performs.
The Spurs saved it shut within the fourth however the recreation appeared over when the Rockets took an 8 level lead with lower than a minute left, however some Chris Paul magic 4 level play led to a six level possession when he drew a flagrant foul on Tari Eason and Wemby hit the midrange. Van Vleet hit a clutch three level shot and the magic died because the Rockets received 106-101.
The Spurs are headed to Oklamoma Metropolis for a FIGABABA on Wednesday evening, after which to Utah on Thursday for the SEGABABA in opposition to the Jazz.
