VanVleet scores 21 points and Rockets hold off Spurs 103-101 on an off night for Wembanyama
SAN ANTONIO (AP) Fred VanVleet scored 21 points and the Houston Rockets held Victor Wembanyama in check to beat the San Antonio Spurs 103-101 on Tuesday night.
San Antonio cut the deficit to 99-98 with 19 seconds remaining on Jeremy Sochan’s three-point play off a missed 3-pointer by Wembanyama. But Houston was able to stay ahead from the foul line.
“I feel like we followed the game plan until the final minute,” Rockets guard Dillon Brooks said. “We wanted to foul and not let them get any shots up on the rim, make them earn it on the free throw line.”
Houston won its fourth straight on the road and is five games behind Golden State for 10th in the Western Conference.
Wembanyama finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and six assists after a sluggish start.
“I wish we played him again,” Brooks said.
Wembanyama finished 5 for 12 from the field as Houston threw multiple double- and triple-teams at him while using undersized defenders such as Brooks and Jae’Sean Tate.
“The physicality, the energy,” Wembanyama said of the difficulties he faced offensively. “Every night it’s a challenge, but this is a very aggressive team defensively, so this is the most hard.”
Tre Jones had 22 points and Sochan added 21 as San Antonio lost for the fourth time in five games.
At 14-52, San Antonio must finish at least 7-9 to avoid matching the franchise’s worst record of 20-62 set in 1997.
Jalen Green had 16 points and Jabari Smith Jr. added 15 for the Rockets, who had seven players score at least eight points.
The Rockets were without Alperen Sengun, who had a career-high 45 points and five blocks along with a season-best 16 rebounds in a 114-101 victory over the Spurs on March 5. Sengun is out indefinitely after sustaining injuries to his right ankle and knee against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.
Jones matched a career high with four 3-pointers, all in the first half. He finished 4 for 7 on 3-pointers and was held to six points in the second half.
“Tre is a consummate competitor,” Popovich said. “He’s going to do everything he can to win a game. Simple as that. That’s what he does. He’s at his best night after night after night. He’ll do anything that needs to be done.”
Jones’ output was needed with Keldon Johnson sitting out with a stomach illness and Wembanyama and Devin Vassell having off nights.
Wembanyama and Vassell, the team’s leading scorers, were a combined 2 for 7 and had two points apiece with two minutes remaining in the third quarter. Vassell finished with five points and Wembanyama had 11 points in the final 14 minutes of the game.
“When you’ve got a guy like Wembanyama, we feel like we have three, four really solid defenders that we can throw on him,” Houston coach Ime Udoka said. “Guys that are undersized that can kind of move in on him and take him off his spot. (Tate) came in and did some of the same things that Dillon was doing.”
Vassell was fouled off an inbounds play with four seconds remaining before he could take a potential game-tying 3-pointer. Vassell made the first free throw and then purposely missed the second, which Amen Thompson rebounded to seal the victory.
“It’s something that we’ve worked on and done quite a few times this year,” Udoka said. “It’s worked well for us. You want to take away that only shot that can (tie) us and our denials were really good.”
The Spurs built a 10-point lead to open the game, but the Rockets went on an 8-0 run as soon as Wembanyama went to the bench for a rest.
The Spurs face Denver on Friday in a home game at Austin as part of their regional outreach.
UP NEXT
Rockets: Host Washington on Thursday night.
Spurs: Host Denver on Friday night in Austin.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jabari Smith Jr. vs. Victor Wembanyama (Julian Champagnie gains possession) | |||
11:44 | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | |||
11:41 | Amen Thompson defensive rebound | |||
11:36 | Dillon Brooks misses three point jump shot | |||
11:36 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
11:13 | Tre Jones misses three point jump shot | |||
11:08 | Jeremy Sochan offensive rebound | |||
11:08 | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point tip dunk | 0-2 | |
10:51 | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | |||
10:48 | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | |||
10:40 | Jeremy Sochan misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
10:37 | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | |||
10:27 | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point stepback jump shot | 2-2 | |
10:04 | +3 | Tre Jones makes three point jump shot (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 2-5 | |
9:49 | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point stepback jump shot | 4-5 | |
9:28 | Victor Wembanyama turnover (bad pass) (Fred VanVleet steals) | |||
9:22 | +2 | Amen Thompson makes two point running dunk (Dillon Brooks assists) | 6-5 | |
9:07 | +3 | Julian Champagnie makes three point jump shot (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 6-8 | |
8:51 | Jabari Smith Jr. misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
8:49 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
8:40 | Fred VanVleet personal foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | |||
8:30 | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point driving floating jump shot (Devin Vassell assists) | 6-10 | |
8:19 | Jabari Smith Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Tre Jones steals) | |||
8:15 | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point running finger roll layup | 6-12 | |
8:00 | Jalen Green misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
7:57 | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | |||
7:49 | Tre Jones misses three point jump shot | |||
7:46 | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | |||
7:38 | Dillon Brooks misses three point jump shot | |||
7:35 | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | |||
7:20 | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point driving bank hook shot | 6-14 | |
7:01 | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point pullup jump shot (Amen Thompson assists) | 8-14 | |
6:49 | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point alley-oop dunk (Tre Jones assists) | 8-16 | |
6:37 | Jalen Green misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
6:34 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
6:25 | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point cutting finger roll layup (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 8-18 | |
6:25 | Rockets 60 second timeout | |||
6:06 | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point jump shot (Jock Landale assists) | 11-18 | |
5:49 | Jeremy Sochan misses three point jump shot | |||
5:48 | Rockets defensive rebound | |||
5:34 | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point pullup jump shot | 14-18 | |
5:32 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
5:07 | Zach Collins misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
5:05 | Jalen Green defensive rebound | |||
5:01 | Jalen Green turnover (bad pass) (Tre Jones steals) | |||
4:52 | Devin Vassell misses three point jump shot | |||
4:49 | Jalen Green defensive rebound | |||
4:35 | Zach Collins shooting foul (Amen Thompson draws the foul) | |||
4:35 | +1 | Amen Thompson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-18 | |
4:35 | +1 | Amen Thompson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-18 | |
4:14 | Malaki Branham misses three point jump shot | |||
4:11 | Zach Collins offensive rebound | |||
4:04 | Jock Landale shooting foul (Zach Collins draws the foul) | |||
4:04 | +1 | Zach Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-19 | |
4:04 | +1 | Zach Collins makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-20 | |
3:44 | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 18-20 | |
3:32 | +2 | Malaki Branham makes two point driving layup (Zach Collins assists) | 18-22 | |
3:20 | +2 | Fred VanVleet makes two point pullup jump shot (Jock Landale assists) | 20-22 | |
3:06 | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point dunk (Devin Vassell assists) | 20-24 | |
2:54 | Devin Vassell personal foul (Fred VanVleet draws the foul) | |||
2:45 | +2 | Jock Landale makes two point floating jump shot (Jalen Green assists) | 22-24 | |
2:30 | +2 | Blake Wesley makes two point driving dunk (Malaki Branham assists) | 22-26 | |
2:22 | Jalen Green misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
2:20 | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | |||
2:11 | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point cutting layup (Blake Wesley assists) | 22-28 | |
1:45 | +2 | Aaron Holiday makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 24-28 | |
1:36 | Aaron Holiday shooting foul (Blake Wesley draws the foul) | |||
1:36 | +1 | Blake Wesley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-29 | |
1:36 | +1 | Blake Wesley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-30 | |
1:21 | Jabari Smith Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
1:19 | Blake Wesley defensive rebound | |||
1:02 | Malaki Branham misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
0:59 | Jeff Green defensive rebound | |||
0:45 | Jeff Green misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
0:42 | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | |||
0:24 | Jeremy Sochan turnover (lost ball) (Jabari Smith Jr. steals) | |||
0:18 | Zach Collins blocks Jabari Smith Jr.'s two point running layup | |||
0:18 | Rockets offensive rebound | |||
0:16 | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | |||
0:13 | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | |||
0:02 | Devin Vassell misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
0:02 | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | |||
0:01 | Fred VanVleet misses three point floating jump shot | |||
0:01 | Rockets offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:47 | Aaron Holiday misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
11:42 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
11:31 | Malaki Branham turnover (bad pass) (Reggie Bullock Jr. steals) | |||
11:19 | Victor Wembanyama blocks Jae'Sean Tate's two point driving layup | |||
11:19 | Rockets offensive rebound | |||
11:16 | Reggie Bullock Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
11:12 | Dominick Barlow defensive rebound | |||
10:59 | Dominick Barlow misses three point jump shot | |||
10:56 | Dillon Brooks defensive rebound | |||
10:45 | Aaron Holiday misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
10:42 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
10:32 | Victor Wembanyama turnover (bad pass) (Jock Landale steals) | |||
10:27 | +2 | Aaron Holiday makes two point running layup | 26-30 | |
10:02 | Dominick Barlow turnover (bad pass) (Reggie Bullock Jr. steals) | |||
9:56 | Dillon Brooks misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
9:51 | Jock Landale offensive rebound | |||
9:50 | Dillon Brooks misses three point jump shot | |||
9:47 | Jock Landale offensive rebound | |||
9:45 | Reggie Bullock Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
9:38 | Jae'Sean Tate offensive rebound | |||
9:38 | +2 | Jae'Sean Tate makes two point putback layup | 28-30 | |
9:19 | Malaki Branham offensive foul (Jae'Sean Tate draws the foul) | |||
9:19 | Malaki Branham turnover (offensive foul) | |||
9:03 | Dillon Brooks turnover (bad pass) (Julian Champagnie steals) | |||
8:51 | Victor Wembanyama misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
8:48 | Dominick Barlow offensive rebound | |||
8:43 | Devonte' Graham misses three point jump shot | |||
8:36 | Tre Jones offensive rebound | |||
8:32 | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | |||
8:32 | Rockets defensive rebound | |||
8:32 | Dominick Barlow personal foul (Loose ball) (Jae'Sean Tate draws the foul) | |||
8:08 | Rockets turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
7:58 | Jae'Sean Tate personal foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | |||
7:56 | Victor Wembanyama misses three point jump shot | |||
7:51 | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | |||
7:45 | Dominick Barlow shooting foul (Jeff Green draws the foul) | |||
7:45 | +1 | Jeff Green makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-30 | |
7:45 | Jeff Green misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
7:43 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
7:30 | Jae'Sean Tate blocks Victor Wembanyama's two point layup | |||
7:30 | Rockets defensive rebound | |||
7:12 | +3 | Jeff Green makes three point jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 32-30 | |
6:58 | +3 | Tre Jones makes three point jump shot (Sandro Mamukelashvili assists) | 32-33 | |
6:43 | Jeff Green misses three point jump shot | |||
6:40 | Sandro Mamukelashvili defensive rebound | |||
6:36 | Tre Jones turnover (bad pass) (Jeff Green steals) | |||
6:31 | +2 | Fred VanVleet makes two point running finger roll layup | 34-33 | |
6:04 | +3 | Tre Jones makes three point jump shot (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 34-36 | |
5:46 | Fred VanVleet misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
5:43 | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | |||
5:18 | +2 | Sandro Mamukelashvili makes two point pullup jump shot | 34-38 | |
5:08 | Dillon Brooks offensive foul (Tre Jones draws the foul) | |||
5:08 | Dillon Brooks turnover (offensive foul) | |||
5:08 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
4:51 | Fred VanVleet blocks Tre Jones's two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:50 | Rockets defensive rebound | |||
4:50 | Rockets 60 second timeout | |||
4:30 | Fred VanVleet misses two point jump shot | |||
4:27 | Zach Collins defensive rebound | |||
4:23 | Zach Collins misses three point jump shot | |||
4:19 | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | |||
4:06 | Jalen Green misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
4:03 | Jalen Green offensive rebound | |||
4:01 | Jeremy Sochan blocks Jalen Green's two point finger roll layup | |||
3:56 | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | |||
3:54 | Devin Vassell turnover (lost ball) (Amen Thompson steals) | |||
3:53 | Tre Jones personal foul (Jabari Smith Jr. draws the foul) | |||
3:35 | +3 | Jock Landale makes three point jump shot (Jalen Green assists) | 37-38 | |
3:17 | +2 | Julian Champagnie makes two point driving layup (Tre Jones assists) | 37-40 | |
3:04 | Jock Landale offensive foul (Jeremy Sochan draws the foul) | |||
3:04 | Jock Landale turnover (offensive foul) | |||
2:52 | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point jump shot (Jeremy Sochan assists) | 37-42 | |
2:38 | Jalen Green misses two point driving layup | |||
2:36 | Amen Thompson offensive rebound | |||
2:30 | Amen Thompson turnover (lost ball) (Julian Champagnie steals) | |||
2:18 | Jeremy Sochan misses three point jump shot | |||
2:15 | Jalen Green defensive rebound | |||
2:07 | +2 | Fred VanVleet makes two point pullup jump shot (Jock Landale assists) | 39-42 | |
1:50 | Jeremy Sochan turnover (traveling) | |||
1:35 | Fred VanVleet misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
1:31 | Jock Landale offensive rebound | |||
1:30 | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point driving floating jump shot (Jock Landale assists) | 41-42 | |
1:10 | +3 | Tre Jones makes three point jump shot (Devin Vassell assists) | 41-45 | |
0:58 | Dillon Brooks turnover (bad pass) (Devin Vassell steals) | |||
0:51 | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | |||
0:47 | Jalen Green defensive rebound | |||
0:35 | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point pullup jump shot |