After leaving the truck keys to Brett Brown for a short week, Gregg Popovich was back tonight on the Spurs bench. This Texan derby against the Rockets hasn’t had much flavor for two seasons, but it will at least have allowed Keldon Johnson’s teammates to end a series of 11 straight defeats! The franchise record will not be reached, and it was in the second period that Spurs made the difference thanks to Johnson, Tre Jones and the amazing Charles Bassey.
The Rockets do not want to defend, and in two minutes, the Spurs sign an 11-0 to take control of the match (70-65). Kevin Porter Jr. stops the bleeding but the Spurs continue with an 8-0 to take off at the end of the 3rd quarter (90-77). The dynamic is clearly on the San Antonio side, and it is veterans Doug McDermott and Josh Richardson who take care, with 3-pointers, to bring the gap to + 20 (109-89). Upon arrival, the Spurs win 118-109, and they restore the last place in the Western Conference to Houston.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
Sengun’s canceled poster dunk. At the heart of the 11-0 conceded by the Rockets in the 3rd quarter, Alperen Sengun had signed the “poster dunk” of the evening on a coast-to-coast. The Turk crossed the whole field before crushing Zach Collins. The referees whistled an offensive foul for a forward elbow. The passage of Zach Collins to the infirmary is proof of this.
Defense on transition game. The Rockets wanted to chain the victories, but they didn’t seem to want to make the effort… Last night, their defensive withdrawal was catastrophic. The players seemed little concerned with the match, and especially with the defense. Tre Jones enjoyed crossing the field to serve his shooters, or even go after.
Sad sight. When the bottom two of the Western Conference meet, you can’t necessarily expect a great game. Dunks missed, passes lobbed too high, lost balls, air ball… It was very ugly.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅Keldon Johnson. Angry with his shot for several weeks, the Olympic champion wakes up at the best time, and his start to the match is perfect since he will plant his first nine shots! Adroit from a distance, he varied his attacks and he won his duels near the circle with the immense arms of Jabari Smith Jr.
✅ Tre Jones. Career record for Tyus’ brother with 26 points. Like Johnson, he started the game flat out, and between them, they started the game with a 16 of 18 on shots! He consistently brought pace, and the Rockets cracked in the 3rd quarter.
✅Charles Bassey. His entry into the 3rd quarter, after the injury of Zach Collins, is decisive. He connects the counters on one side, flies to the alley-oop on the other. The X factor on Spurs side.
⛔The duo Green-Porter Jr. 10 of 33 on shots for the two leaders of Houston. Their selection of shots is questionable, their defense on transition or placed play is non-existent. They lead their team.
THE FOLLOWING
Houston (7-18) : reception of the Bucks on Sunday evening.
San Antonio (7-18) : trip to Miami on Saturday evening.
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