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In the opener of Emirates NBA Cup 2025 play for both teams, the Rockets struggled with defense and turnovers in Friday’s 121-110 loss (box score) to the San Antonio Spurs
Houston (5-3) had its five-game winning streak snapped, while San Antonio improved to 6-2 while taking the early lead in Western Conference Group C (for the NBA Cup).
“They were the tougher team,” said head coach Ime Udoka, whose Rockets entered as the NBA’s best rebounding team. “They kind of punked us out there and out-hustled us.”
The Rockets committed 23 turnovers and gave up 15 offensive rebounds, many of them leading to open 3-pointers for the Spurs. San Antonio connected on 18-of-45 from distance as a team (40.0%), led by a 6-of-9 showing (66.7%) from Harrison Barnes (24 points, 5 rebounds).
Keldon Johnson grabbed five of those critical offensive boards for the Spurs, who scored 33 points off turnovers from the Rockets.
Kevin Durant had 24 points for the Rockets on 8-of-18 shooting (44.4%), but he also committed a game-high eight turnovers and had only one rebound. In postgame comments, the perennial All-Star forward and future Hall of Famer took much of the responsibility.
“I had eight of them,” Durant said of the turnovers (via Will Guillory, The Athletic). “I think that’s just the reason why. It’s contagious. I’ve got to be better and I think it’ll trickle down to everybody else.”
“Teams are trying to swarm and take the ball out of me and Alpi’s hands a lot. They’re trying to make the other three guys beat them on the court. They get away from their defensive schemes, come jump the ball, come get their hands on some passes. I’ve got to be more patient and make stronger passes. Make better reads.”
Despite the attention drawn, Rockets big man Alperen Sengun finished with a game-high 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists while making 10-of-22 shots (45.5%).
Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama was strong in his own right with 22 points (50.0% FG), 8 rebounds, and 4 assists, and he navigated much of the fourth quarter with 5 fouls — as did Sengun.
After a one-game injury absence, Steven Adams (left hip flexor strain) returned to Houston’s rotation. However, the Rockets were outplayed by seven points in his 20 minutes, and the veteran big man wasn’t quite as impactful as he typically is.
Second-year guard Reed Sheppard flourished off Houston’s bench with 16 points and 6 assists, all while making 6-of-10 shots (60.0%) and 4-of-7 from 3-point range (57.1%). In a game-changing stretch with Sheppard mostly on the bench, Houston was outscored 36-12 over approximately nine game minutes from late in the second quarter to midway through the third quarter.
The Rockets finished +8 in Sheppard’s 26 minutes, though he did struggle defensively on a few possessions late in the fourth quarter.
Next up for the Rockets is Sunday afternoon’s game at Milwaukee (5-3), which concludes a three-game road trip. Tipoff of Rockets-Bucks is at 2:30 p.m. Central, and the game will be televised regionally on Space City Home Network and nationally via NBA League Pass.
