NBA: Spurs dominate second half to storm back, top Rockets

Victor Wembanyama posted his 21st double-double, Keldon Johnson scored 17 points off the bench, and the visiting San Antonio Spurs overcame a 16-point deficit to defeat the Houston Rockets 111-99 on Wednesday.

Wembanyama paired 28 points with 16 rebounds and added five blocked shots to fuel the comeback. The Spurs dominated the Rockets in the third quarter before pulling away in the fourth with a stifling defensive performance that marked a stark departure from their first-half struggles.

The Rockets held an 86-84 lead entering the final period but missed their first 12 shots of the quarter. Wembanyama scored the first seven points of the fourth, and his layup with 8:08 remaining gave the Spurs a 95-86 advantage. Houston’s first field goal of the quarter came at the 5:49 mark, a Tari Eason three-pointer that cut the deficit to 97-90.

Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox combined for 34 points for the Spurs, while rookie Dylan Harper added 16 points, joining Johnson in double figures off the bench. San Antonio scored 72 points in the paint, with Harper and Johnson regularly leaving defenders flat-footed on drives to the rim.

Amen Thompson led the Rockets with 25 points, while Kevin Durant added 24. Alperen Sengun posted 18 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists for Houston, which had defeated the Spurs from a similar deficit last week.

Harper gave the Spurs their first lead at 79-78 with 2:15 left in the third quarter on a driving layup. San Antonio forced six turnovers and scored 16 points in the paint during the period.

Durant and Sengun fueled a fast start for the Rockets, who grabbed a double-digit lead in the first quarter with unselfish play and efficient shooting. The duo combined for 20 points on 9-for-11 shooting in the opening period, helping Houston take a 36-26 advantage into the second quarter. The Rockets recorded 11 assists on their 15 first-quarter field goals.

The Spurs narrowed the gap to 42-39 in the second quarter, capped by an alley-oop from Wembanyama on a transition play. However, Houston responded immediately, and when Reed Sheppard followed a Jabari Smith Jr. three-pointer with two baskets, the Rockets went on a 17-4 run to rebuild their lead at 59-43.

Wembanyama added a dunk and a free throw, and when Fox hit a runner, the Spurs cut the deficit in half, trailing 62-54 at halftime. Their second-half performance set the tone for a decisive comeback.

—Field Level Media/Reuters