Houston Rockets Get Out-Dueled By San Antonio Spurs

After a well-deserved day off, the Houston Rockets are back in action!

Our team played our familiar divisional foe, the Memphis Grizzlies well and eventually ground them into a pulp with notable defense and terrific shooting.

This something the Houston Rockets had struggled with when facing this opponent over the season but with the last two meetings the Houston Rockets averaged 121 points in their wins while allowing 101.5 points on the other end of the court.

The previous two meetings?

The Houston Rockets averaged 107 points while allowing 112.5 on the defensive end.

That’s a stark contrast and it goes to show this team’s resilience in making adjustments when needed.

But any way, another tough test awaited the Rockets tonight.

They faced the No. 2-seeded San Antonio Spurs; and, as always, one knows that it will be a treat of a match up.

The Rockets started out the quarter launching bomb after bomb, shooting up to 70 percent from the field and leading by as much as 16 points in the early goings.

This momentum continued to the 2nd quarter where the team started to cool down to 53 percent from the field but still maintained a 13-point, 47-34 lead at the half.

This was after a 15-7 run mounted by the Spurs.

More from House of Houston

James Harden effortlessly led the Rockets with 23 points while they also out-rebounded the Spurs 27-23 with Clint Capela, Patrick Beverley and Trevor Ariza each snagging over five rebounds.

The Rockets continued to shoot well at the start of the 2nd half but toward the end of the third quarter, when the Spurs went on a tear with a counterattack.

Over the course of 2:23, Tony Parker hit two threes, coupled by a Danny Green three-ball, capped off by a power dunk by David Lee.

This capped off a 11-0 run by the Spurs to close within two of the Rox, 69-67.

Things didn’t get better either.

With 3:30 left, after two a key Parker bucket and another Lee dunk, the Spurs took the lead for the first time since they led 7-6 at the 9:30 mark in the 1st quarter.

Shortly thereafter, Ryan Anderson‘s back tightened up, preventing him from continuing in the game.

This resulted in Sam Dekker checking in at the three and Ariza sliding over to the four-spot.

Both teams dueled all the way to end of the third, with the Spurs leading 82-81.

The Rockets committed four key turnovers that were crucial to the Spurs resurgence to get themselves back into the game.

The 4th quarter continued to be a tight one for the Rockets but they were able pull away to a 98-91 lead after a Lou Williams jumper but Leonard and Parker both teamed up score seven unanswered points to tie the game back at 98-all.

The war continued as each team traded baskets with one another until the last minute of the game.

Rockets 107, Spurs 107

Harden was fouled with 39.7 seconds left by Lee on the drive — the call was upheld after review — but he missed the first free throw but made the second one.