HOUSTON — Alperen Sengun flirted with a triple-double as the Houston Rockets overcame a sluggish start and a 16-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs, 111-106, on Tuesday night at the Toyota Center.
Sengun anchored the Rockets with 20 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists, while rookie standout Reed Sheppard provided the late-game heroics, scoring 12 of his team-high 21 points in the fourth quarter. Kevin Durant added 18 points as Houston secured its third consecutive victory.
Fourth Quarter Surge The Rockets trailed by 10 points entering the final period but opened the quarter with a 9-0 run to pull within one. The game remained a back-and-forth affair until the two-minute mark. With the score tied, Sheppard came up with a massive block on Julian Champagnie’s three-point attempt, leading to a Jabari Smith Jr. fadeaway that put Houston ahead for good.
Sengun’s clutch basket with 30 seconds left extended the lead to four, and Sheppard sealed the game with two free throws after a missed three-point attempt by the Spurs’ Stephon Castle.
Spurs’ Scorching Start The Spurs were led by Julian Champagnie, who hit eight three-pointers to finish with 27 points. His performance kept San Antonio in control for much of the game, especially as the Rockets struggled early following a 22-minute tipoff delay caused by a bent rim during warmups.
Victor Wembanyama was relatively quiet, held to 14 points and 10 rebounds by Houston’s physical interior defense.
Stat Highlights
- Houston: Reed Sheppard (21 pts, 12 in 4th), Alperen Sengun (20 pts, 13 reb, 9 ast), Kevin Durant (18 pts).
- San Antonio: Julian Champagnie (27 pts, 8 3PM), Victor Wembanyama (14 pts, 10 reb).
The Rockets now look to extend their winning streak as they visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Spurs will travel to Utah to take on the Jazz.