Thompson Blocks Wembanyama as Rockets Edge Spurs 114-110
By @sharedot · · 6 pages
- Wildlife
- Nba
- Spurs
- Rockets
- Victor Wembanyama
Amen Thompson blocked Victor Wembanyama's game-tying layup in the final second as Houston edged San Antonio 114-110, dropping the Spurs to 0-2.
The final second: a block that decided it
The Associated Press reports that with less than a second remaining, Amen Thompson blocked Victor Wembanyama's game-tying layup attempt in the lane, and Fred VanVleet sealed a 114-110 Houston win with two free throws at 0.6 seconds.
Wembanyama had banked in a long 3-pointer on the possession before, but it did not count because Spurs coach Mitch Johnson had called timeout with 5 seconds left before the shot was released.
Pounding The Rock's Marilyn Dubinski adds that De'Aaron Fox faked a fadeaway three before heaving to Wembanyama, whose momentum took him low and away from the rim.
Wembanyama's bounce-back, with caveats
This is a genuine reversal of the opener's narrative.
After being held to a poor shooting night against Oklahoma City, Wembanyama doubled his Game 1 field-goal total almost immediately, per Pounding The Rock: an alley-oop from Stephon Castle and a tip-in dunk in his first stint, plus two of his first four threes.
He finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds on 9-of-21 shooting — numbers both outlets confirm — but Dubinski notes he admitted thinking too hard before the opener and 'can still be much better.' The rebound came in a physical, playoff-atmosphere game where San Antonio nearly never led.
Sengun's power and the free throw gap
Alperen Sengun was the game's force, scoring 29 points — including eight straight in the fourth quarter, per the AP — muscling inside for layups and fouls against every defender, including drawing a foul on Wembanyama.
Kevin Durant, in a homecoming game as a former Texas star, added 20 points with seven rebounds and six assists, including a critical three with 1:34 left, and Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds.
The decisive statistical gap was the line: Pounding The Rock reports Houston went 28-of-31 on free throws to San Antonio's 18-of-25, which it calls the Spurs' downfall.
What it means: 0-2, with a quick turnaround
The Spurs fall to 0-2 to start a season of high expectations, and Pounding The Rock observes they are joined there by the defending champions.
There were encouraging signs beyond Wembanyama: all four other starters reached double figures, led by rookie Dylan Harper's 20 points — including a driving dunk that cut the deficit to two with 46 seconds left — and De'Aaron Fox's 19.
Both teams now play Saturday: Houston visits Atlanta, while San Antonio travels to Dallas for a 7:00 PM CT tip-off that Dubinski criticizes as a back-to-back with travel and tip-offs less than 23 hours apart.