Sheppard ignited a stunning fourth-quarter surge, erasing a 16-point deficit as the Rockets snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
The Houston Rockets looked like they were flirting with a loss they didn’t have room for on Tuesday night. San Antonio was way too comfortable at Toyota Center, playing loose and bombing threes. Houston couldn’t stay attached on the perimeter, and Julian Champagnie was torching everything in sight.
The Rockets trailed by as many as 16 points, and it felt earned.
San Antonio hit 11 threes before the break, with Champagnie drilling six of them himself. He poured in 27 points, running past Houston’s perimeter coverage and carrying the Spurs offense almost single-handedly. By comparison, Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox finished with 14 apiece.
Houston meanwhile was barely hanging on. The Rockets had made just five threes by halftime on 12 attempts and were living off effort plays- extra possessions, second chances, and just enough defense to keep the game from blowing open.
Then everything flipped, especially in those last 12 minutes.
San Antonio’s shooting completely collapsed. After raining threes early, the Spurs went 0-for-13 from deep in the final frame, finishing the second half 2-for-26 from three overall. They shot just 30-percent from the field after halftime and couldn’t generate clean looks once Houston tightened up.
Reed Sheppard had kicked the door in.
Sheppard exploded for 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, knocking down three threes, forcing turnovers, and igniting the Rockets’ biggest and most dramatic comeback of the season. Houston outscored San Antonio 29-14 in the final frame with a 13-0 run that completely reversed momentum.
Champagnie did not make another basket after the first three minutes of the third quarter. Whether it was fatigue, defensive pressure, or both, the Spurs lost their engine. Without his shot-making, San Antonio had no counter once Houston started rolling.
Amen Thompson finished through contact and iced the game at the line. Alperen Şengün slowed possessions, scored inside, and finished one assist shy of his 10th career triple-double.
The final score reflects the finish- not the fight. This was a game Houston had to drag back from the edge, and it took a remarkable fourth-quarter takeover to do it.
By the Numbers:
- Largest deficit: Houston trailed by 16 points
- Spurs before halftime: 11 made threes, with Julian Champagnie hitting six on his own
- Spurs second half: 30-percent shooting from the field, 2-for-26 from three, including 0-for-13 in the fourth quarter
- Fourth quarter: Rockets outscored San Antonio 29-14
- Reed Sheppard: 21 points, with 12 coming in the fourth quarter and three made threes during the comeback
- Alperen Şengün: finished one assist shy of his 10th career triple-double, with 20 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists
- Kevin Durant: drew consistent doubles in the fourth, opening the floor during Houston’s decisive run and added 18 points, four rebounds, and seven assists
- Jabari Smith Jr.: delivered timely buckets during the rally and helped stretch San Antonio’s defense once Houston seized momentum
Victor Wembanyama: 14 points, going 5-for-21