Spurs dominate second half to storm back, top Rockets

Victor Wembanyama posted his 21st double-double, Keldon Johnson scored 17 points off the bench, and the visiting San Antonio Spurs rallied from a 16-point deficit to defeat the Houston Rockets 111-99 on Wednesday.

Wembanyama paired 28 points with 16 rebounds and added five blocked shots to fuel the comeback. The Spurs bludgeoned the Rockets in the third quarter before pulling away in the fourth with a stifling defensive performance that marked a total departure from the first half.

The Rockets led 86-84 entering the final period before missing their first 12 shots. Wembanyama scored the first seven points of the fourth and his layup later with 8:08 left to play gave the Spurs a 95-86 lead. The Rockets' first field goal came at the 5:49 mark, a Tari Eason 3-pointer that cut the deficit to 97-90.

Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox combined for 34 points for the Spurs while rookie Dylan Harper (16 points) joined Johnson in double figures off the bench. The Spurs scored 72 points in the paint, with Harper and Johnson routinely leaving defenders flat-footed on forays to the rim.

Amen Thompson paced the Rockets with 25 points while Kevin Durant added 24. Alperen Sengun posted 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for Houston, which rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat the Spurs last week.

Harper gave the Spurs their first lead at 79-78 with 2:15 left in the third quarter on a driving layup. The Spurs forced six turnovers and scored 16 points in the paint in the period.

Durant and Sengun fueled a blistering start for the Rockets, who seized a double-digit lead in the first quarter by virtue of an unselfish approach and superb shot-making. Durant and Sengun combined for 20 points on 9-for-11 shooting in the opening period, and Houston led 36-26 entering the second. The Rockets recorded 11 assists on their 15 field goals in the first quarter.

The Spurs rallied to within 42-39 in the second, with Wembanyama capping an 11-2 run with a transition alley-oop. But Houston fashioned an immediate response, and when Reed Sheppard followed a Jabari Smith Jr. 3-pointer with a pair of baskets, the Rockets' 17-4 blitz rebuilt their lead to 59-43.

Wembanyama added another dunk and a free throw, and, when Fox delivered a runner, the Spurs cut the deficit in half and trailed 62-54 at the break. They also set the tone for the second half.