The San Antonio Spurs fell to the Houston Rockets 111-106, as Houston mounted a 16-point comeback.
SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs lost to the Houston Rockets 111-106 on the road. Julian Champagnie led the team with 28 points and eight rebounds. The Spurs are 1-1 versus the Rockets this season, and Houston completed its largest comeback of the season at 16 points.
Keldon Johnson finished with 12 points and six rebounds off the bench. Harrison Barnes added six points. Luke Kornet had eight points and six rebounds. De’Aaron Fox added 14 points, and Victor Wembanyama finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Dylan Harper had eight, and Stephon Castle recorded 13 points and eight assists.
Devin Vassell did not play due to injury.
The Spurs are 30-14 and will next visit the Jazz on Thursday night.
Here’s a sample of what the Spurs and Rockets said after the game.
Mitch Johnson:
“I don’t think it was one thing that continued to hurt us, other than just some some toughness, mental, physical, all across the board, and a lot of different ways that got to us, and it snowballed, and they (Rockets) rode the momentum, and they finished the job, and we gave a lot of way and participated in that.”
Champagnie:
“I don’t think we stuck to what we were supposed to stick to. They went on a run, which you know, every team in the NBA is going to do, they’re a good team. I just don’t feel like we stuck to the basics, honestly and truly. Shots are going to fall, shots fall, shots don’t fall, that’s just a part of basketball in general. But I think when a team goes on a run and you can’t seem to slow down and just figure it out, that’s what happens. They come back from down 20 or whatever it was and win the game.”
Wembanyama:
“Same as usual. Blowing a 15-plus point lead. The good thing is, we’re all onto the problem, we’re operating our minds into it, but we’re conscious that it is a problem.”
Coach Ime Udoka: