The Spurs host the Rockets for the second consecutive meeting

A jam behind Victor Wembanyama’s head after securing his 19th rebound of the game simply wasn’t enough for the San Antonio Spursas they came up short at home against the Houston Rockets.

After coming back from a 21-point deficit (a positive for a young team that likely couldn’t have done so last season), San Antonio made a crucial defensive error on the final defensive possession, leaving Fred VanVleet wide open from beyond the arc. . .

The Rockets veteran converted, icing the game for Houston as it split the two-game series against its Western Conference rival.

READ MORE: Castle and Spurs are ready to face Rockets for the second time in a row

“Carbon copy of the game the other night,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said after the game. “In the first half, we gave up too many offensive rebounds, we turned it over too much. In the second half, we cut it in half… that keeps you in the game. It’s that simple.”

Popovich praised the fight his team showed, but it turned out to be too little, too late, as San Antonio fell 106-101 to fall to 1-2 on the season. Meanwhile, the Rockets improve to 2-2.

Below is a complete live thread of the game, starting with the fourth quarter:

Before the game:

Notebook: Spurs caught on fire by 3-point shooting, but find positives

It takes a castle: Stephon’s castle’s impact on the pitch starts there

Julian Champagnie’s approach to starting a new season? ‘Keep shooting’