Spurs dismantle Rockets' winning streak by mirroring their game, while Milwaukee pushes Houston to the brink.
The Rockets came crashing back to Earth this weekend, breaking their red-hot five-game victory streak on Friday against the San Antonio Spurs and having a close call in Milwaukee vs. the Bucks.
The Rockets went into the NBA Cup vs. Spurs favored to win with a -4.5 FanDuel projected spread as the best offensive team in the league, leading in offensive rebounds and shooting at elite efficiency from deep as a collective.
But on Friday night, Houston looked in the mirror and didn’t like what they saw- a worthy and capable opponent that pulled the same tricks. San Antonio has a big lineup, a deep bench, and a roster that flexes chemistry and cohesive passing rhythm.
The thing is, the Rockets played like they have been- smooth ball movement, smart offense, stellar shooting efficiency from deep. San Antonio was able to dismantle a system that was nearly flawless a week ago by literally beating Houston at their own game.
The Spurs took several moves out of the Rockets’ 2025-26 playbook- drawing fouls, pulling down rebounds, and forcing the Rockets’ defense to their star shooter Victor Wembanyama, and kicking the ball out to the perimeter. San Antonio boasted 45 three-point attempts, while Houston, caught off guard by the Spurs’ defensive adjustments at the perimeter, only went for 27.
The Spurs’ defense was tight from front to back. Houston’s remarkable ability to retain over 40-percent of offensive rebounds had been one of their strongest weapons before Friday night. The Spurs were ready this time, pulling down 25 of the 42 rebound chances on Houston’s end and shutting down the second-chance looks the Rockets usually live on.
Durant was facing doubles that were swatting at the ball that caused him to commit eight of the staggering 23 Rockets turnovers. Because the Spurs were setting up camp in his jersey, he couldn’t save them and only contributed nine points in the first half and 24 all night.
On Sunday in Milwaukee, the Rockets beat the Bucks 122-115, and the box score looked more on par with the rest of their victories on paper- but still didn’t look like the team that was flying high just last week. Yes, Houston outrebounded Milwaukee 50-27, shot efficiently, and committed fewer turnovers than on Friday, but the Bucks are not the Spurs.
The Bucks came into Sunday’s match with a 5-4 record, and outside of Giannis, they’re plainly inconsistent. They have a mediocre defense, a bench that lacks depth, and consistently rely on their superstar to carry the team.
Milwaukee has a middling team comparable to the Nets, who the Rockets buried 126-105 not too long ago. Yet, Houston allowed them to not only hang in there until the very last minute, but to lead for most of the game- at some points, by double digits.
If the Spurs game was a wake-up call, the Bucks matchup should signal that alarm bells are still ringing. Opponents are finding holes in the Rockets’ system, and their size advantage can’t win them every game.
One loss and a close call isn’t a reason to panic. The Rockets still have a top-two offense with an offensive rating of 132.2, per StatMuse, barely trailing the Denver Nuggets. If anything, this is an opportunity to refine an already effective system, and Ime Udoka is a master at adjusting accordingly.