Explosive final quarter! Wembanyama posts 28+16+5 blocks, Durant scores 24 in vain, Spurs rally with five players in double figures to overturn Rockets

On January 29 Beijing time, in an NBA regular season matchup, the Rockets played at home against the Spurs. The Rockets dominated the first half, holding a lead for a long period, but the Spurs started to fight back in the third quarter. The Rockets struggled offensively in the last quarter, allowing multiple scoring runs from the Spurs and eventually losing the lead. The final score was Spurs 111, Rockets 99.

Statistical summary:

Spurs: Wembanyama with 28 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 blocks; Kastel with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists; Fox scored 18 points and grabbed 8 boards; Keldon contributed 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists; Harper added 16 points.

Rockets: Durant scored 24 points with 6 assists; Shengjing had 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists; Eason contributed 10 points; Amen Thompson scored 25 points.

Game progression:

The first quarter started with a tight contest, scores alternating as the Rockets held a slight lead throughout. Midway, Wembanyama struggled defensively against Shengjing, allowing the Rockets to run a 9-3 spurt to widen the gap. Vassell’s mid-range jumper stopped the bleeding, and the Spurs responded with a 10-2 run to close the gap again. However, near the end of the quarter, the Spurs hit a scoring drought while the Rockets spread the scoring around, finishing the quarter with a 10-2 run. After the first quarter, the Rockets led the Spurs 36-26 by 10 points.

In the second quarter, the Spurs initiated the offense first, capitalizing on the Rockets’ shooting slump with a 9-2 run to cut the lead to 5 points. Thompson’s mid-range shot halted the Spurs’ momentum, and Wembanyama responded with a steady two-pointer. The Rockets quickly regained their rhythm, executing a 7-2 run to push the lead back into double digits. Later in the quarter, the Rockets remained strong, delivering a 10-2 run to lead by 16 points. After a Spurs timeout, they countered with an 11-3 run to close the half. At halftime, the Rockets led 62-54.

The third quarter opened with both teams exchanging baskets, with the Rockets maintaining a solid double-digit lead. However, midway through, the Rockets’ shooting percentage sharply declined, and the Spurs unleashed a powerful 14-2 run to take the lead. Shepherd’s mid-range jumper temporarily stopped the bleeding, and Durant made two free throws after drawing a foul. Yet Fox’s three-pointer tied the game at 82, bringing both teams back to even. Durant assisted Amen for a dunk on the Rockets’ final possession, while Fox’s buzzer-beater three missed. The third quarter ended with the Rockets narrowly leading 86-84.

Interestingly, over the three quarters, the Rockets’ scoring decreased each period, while the Spurs’ scoring increased steadily. This set the stage for a decisive final quarter. The Rockets failed to score for the first 4.5 minutes, while the Spurs went on an 11-0 run to take the lead. The Rockets finally found their rhythm, cutting the deficit to 5 points, but the Spurs responded with a 12-2 run to extend the lead back to double digits. The Rockets couldn’t recover despite substituting starters, and the game concluded with the Spurs completing a comeback victory, 111-99.

Starting lineups for both teams:

Spurs: Champagnie, Barnes, Wembanyama, Kastel, Fox

Rockets: Durant, Smith, Shengjing, Eason, Amen Thompson