After a tough loss to the Pelicans, the Spurs had a couple of days to regroup-and they made the most of it. What started as another sluggish outing turned into a statement win, as San Antonio rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat the Rockets 111-99 in Houston. It was a tale of two halves, and in the second, the Spurs flipped the switch in every phase of the game.
The first half was rough. The Rockets came out firing, knocking down shots with ease while the Spurs struggled to find rhythm.
Turnovers piled up, and the Spurs found themselves down double digits early. By the second quarter, the deficit had ballooned to 16.
But a late push before halftime trimmed it to eight, and that set the stage for what was to come.
The third quarter was all about momentum. Keldon Johnson and Dylan Harper sparked the comeback, helping the Spurs outscore Houston 30-24 in the frame.
Then came the fourth-and that’s when San Antonio took over. The Spurs opened the quarter on an 11-0 run and locked in on defense, holding the Rockets scoreless from the 3:41 mark until the final 40 seconds.
Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant were both neutralized down the stretch, and the Spurs slammed the door with a 27-13 fourth quarter.
Victor Wembanyama led the charge with a dominant two-way performance. He posted a monster double-double: 28 points on 8-of-15 shooting, 16 rebounds, five blocks, three assists, and two steals.
The Rockets tried to rough him up in the paint, but Wemby responded with force. After failing to record a block in their last meeting, he swatted five shots in this one-and each one felt like a momentum-shifter.
His defensive presence was the anchor that held everything together.
And he wasn’t just protecting the rim. Wemby got out in transition, too.
One highlight saw him pick off a pass, run the floor, and throw down a vicious alley-oop from Stephon Castle. Later, he grabbed a board, sprinted the lane, and finished a reverse poster over Josh Okogie off a slick bounce pass from De’Aaron Fox.
These weren’t just flashy plays-they were tone-setters.
Speaking of Fox, the Spurs’ lead guard bounced back after a shaky first half. He finished with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting, eight assists, five rebounds, and a block.
Once the game slowed down, Fox found his groove. He used his shiftiness to create space, break down the defense, and generate easy looks for himself and his teammates.
His ability to control tempo and make smart reads was crucial in the second half.
Keldon Johnson continues to thrive in his sixth-man role. He dropped 17 points (8-of-15 FG), grabbed seven boards, and dished out five assists.
His physicality in the paint-especially when matched up against bigger bodies like Sengun-helped shift the energy of the game. Johnson’s relentless drives and timely buckets kept the Spurs within striking distance early and helped put the game away late.
He even delivered the dagger: a backdoor cut and slam as the shot clock expired, catching the Rockets flat-footed.
Stephon Castle added 16 points (7-of-12 FG), six assists, five rebounds, and two steals while playing elite perimeter defense. Castle was tasked with guarding both Durant and Sengun at different points-and he didn’t back down.
His strength and balance allowed him to hold his ground against bigger players, and his defensive IQ showed in how he rotated and communicated. Offensively, Castle kept things moving and attacked when the opportunity was there, including a blow-by jam past Jabari Smith Jr. that brought the bench to its feet.
Dylan Harper also had 16 points (8-of-11 FG), along with four rebounds, three assists, and a block. Harper helped lead the third-quarter surge with his fearless drives and quick decision-making.
He played with confidence, attacking the rim and finishing through contact. One coast-to-coast finish over Kevin Durant highlighted just how fast and dynamic he can be in the open floor.
He also made the smart reads-like finding Devin Vassell for a corner three-that helped stretch the defense.
Defensively, the Spurs locked in when it mattered most. A key moment came when head coach Mitch Johnson dared Amen Thompson to shoot, and it completely disrupted the Rockets’ offensive flow. From that point on, Houston couldn’t get comfortable, and the Spurs capitalized with stops that turned into transition points.
This wasn’t just a win-it was a blueprint. When the Spurs defend like this, when they get contributions from the bench, and when Wembanyama plays like the generational talent he is, they’re more than capable of beating playoff-caliber teams. This game showed what San Antonio can be when everything clicks: tough, unselfish, and relentless.
A comeback like this doesn’t happen without grit-and the Spurs had plenty of it.