Spurs ignite offensively, building a massive lead behind a season-high 145 points. Rockets crumble, surrendering their largest scoring deficit.
This evening NBC gave fans a primetime showdown between two Texas teams. Two teams at the top of the Western Conference standings. Coming into Sunday night’s matchup, Houston had a great opportunity to solidify their positioning against a conference foe, tying the series 2-2.
Through their first three games against San Antonio this season, the Rockets were only able to pick up one win. That came about a month and a half ago on January 20th. Reed Sheppard propelled his team to the win there, scoring 12 out of his 21 points in their fourth quarter comeback. Check out the Roundtable review of that game here.
Currently averaging a smooth 22.0 points through his first three games in March, I don’t think it would’ve surprised anyone for him to have another big game tonight. Sheppard wasn’t able to get things going right away, as the Rockets had Tari Eason in the starting lineup again tonight.
Reed would get his opportunity pretty early though, checking in with less than three minutes of time off the clock. Perhaps Ime Udoka thought the team needed more offense, subbing out Jabari and Amen for Sheppard and Finney-Smith . This proved to have an immediate impact as both of them nailed their first attempts from deep.
Victor Wenbamyama scored San Antonio’s first eight points in the back and forth start to this game, but the Spurs stretched the lead to double digits as soon as he went to the bench.
Chanpagnie hit a three, Dylan Harper drained back to back triples, and Vassell got fouled on a deep ball, ultimately converting all three. It wasn’t looking good for Houston.
But basketball is a game of runs and we’ve seen this team come back numerous times this season. Durant’s free throws gave them a lead to end the quarter at 33-32.
The second quarter felt like a repeat of the first. The Spurs started 7/7 shooting, re-establishing a double digit lead less than four minutes into the quarter. With the scoreboard now reading 39-50, there was a 12 point swing in the blink of an eye.
Credit that run to turnovers, as their eighth of the half gave Wemby the opportunity to drain a buzzer-beating three to end the half 57-69.
After going into the half looking at their biggest deficit of the game, things did not get any better. From 12 to 15, 17, then 19, the Spurs went on a 9-0 run and didn’t look back. An extended 22-6 run essentially ended this game before we even got midway through the third quarter. The Rockets were down by 26 at that point.
Only managing to pull within 14 points, the game ended 120-145. This is the most points the Rockets have allowed all season. A disappointing outcome after the promising end to the first quarter.