Spurs Defeat Rockets 121-110 in NBA Cup Opener
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Harrison Barnes led the San Antonio Spurs with 24 points as they defeated the Houston Rockets 121-110 on Friday night in the NBA Cup opener for both teams. Julian Champagnie and Victor Wembanyama each added 22 points for San Antonio.
Kevin Durant scored 24 points and Alperen Sengun contributed 22 for Houston, which saw its five-game winning streak come to an end.
Key Moments in the Game
- Barnes sealed the victory by scoring the final four points on two free throws and a breakaway dunk following a steal at midcourt with 12 seconds left.
- Champagnie scored nine points in the fourth quarter and made 6 of 13 three-pointers overall. He also secured a contested offensive rebound and recovered a loose ball while the Spurs held a 115-108 lead.
- The Rockets applied physical defense on Wembanyama, with guards Josh Okogie and Reed Sheppard repeatedly pushing him out of position in the first half. Wembanyama had four points on 2-for-6 shooting in the first two quarters.
San Antonio's Defensive Surge
The Spurs ended the first half on a 12-0 run sparked by Houston's five turnovers in the last two minutes. During this run, Devin Vassell made a three-pointer and Stephon Castle completed a three-point play. Durant was called for his third personal foul at the start of this rally after shoving Barnes to the court.
"Barnes scored the game's final four points on a pair of free throws and a breakaway dunk after a steal at midcourt with 12 seconds remaining."
"The Rockets were aggressive defensively against Wembanyama, pushing him repeatedly in the chest and out of position offensively in the first half."
The Spurs controlled the pace in the second half to secure their win and halt Houston's momentum.
Author's Summary: The Spurs overcame strong defensive pressure and a streaking Rockets team, led by Barnes' clutch scoring and Wembanyama's resilience, to win the NBA Cup opener 121-110.