The Spurs have just taken a step closer to the “play-in”. With this fourth victory in a row, on the floor of the Rockets, the Texans remain 11th in their conference but have only one defeat more than the Lakers, still 10th and in a much worse dynamic.
Gregg Popovich and his men can be satisfied with this rapprochement in the standings after having had to work in Texas, against the worst team in the West, deprived of Christian Wood. Comfortably in the lead after a quarter (31-39), then two (55-67), San Antonio remained in control until the start of the last period (84-96).
This is where Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green, well supported by Josh Christopher, began to seriously sound the charge to reduce the gap to only one possession with four minutes remaining (110-113). Despite the game of free throws where the Spurs have rather ensured, the locals still have a last opportunity to equalize and thus slip into overtime.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The incredible “in-and-out” of Kenyon Martin Jr. at the buzzer. « I can’t believe it didn’t fit… “, can rightly regret the interior of the Rockets. The latter, who had converted a winning shot a few seconds earlier, inherited the last shot in the hope of snatching the extension. His shot with the board went around the circle twice before coming out under the dumbfounded gaze of the Spurs.
– Frontal Style Opposition. On the Houston side, all the players who came into play tried their luck at 3-pointers, from where they all scored. If the Texans stayed in the game, and managed to scare their opponents at the end of the game, it was thanks to their 3-point address (20/49). The Spurs, on the contrary, were much less greedy, and inspired, by far (7/29). On the other hand, they knocked out the Rockets in their racket with an abysmal gap in the matter in their favor: 72 points scored at 30!
– Spurs on waivers. Even if the end of the season could be truncated with the resting of certain major players, the Spurs schedule seems much more affordable than that of the Lakers, who have to travel more often. The Texans could capitalize on a series of three games to come at home, including two not to lose against the Blazers in a few days.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Dejounte Murray. Gregg Popovich joked that he should be fined for not reaching the triple-double. That didn’t stop his general-in-chief from putting out yet another top-flight performance. He who took so long to miss his first shot dominated the debates in the first period by being hyper incisive towards the circle. He eased off afterwards but kept an influence on the game. Career record in “scoring” for him.
✅ Jakob Poeltl. He does not make a lot of noise but the pivot continues his good season with his 26th double-double of the year, with almost no waste. His replacement Zach Collins also delivered a very clean copy.
✅ Josh Christopher. Game in control for the rookie, one of the few Rockets to finish with a positive impact on the score. He especially shone with his play on the periphery and his attachments to the pass. In the dying seconds, he converted a highly contested award-winning shot to keep his team’s hopes alive.
✅⛔ Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green. The offensive leaders of the Rockets responded, especially in the fourth quarter to bring Houston back. They even distinguished themselves in defense, the first signing one of the counterattacks of the evening under the circle against Zach Collins, the second causing a strong passage. A lot of good things but still a lot of waste in shooting (19/46 between them).
THE FOLLOWING
Rockets (20-56) : reception of the Kings, Wednesday
Spurs (31-44) : reception of the Grizzlies, Wednesday
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