The Houston Rockets despatched a message with their Friday night time 114-110 win over the San Antonio Spurs. The Rockets had already gained their season opener on Wednesday. However in an indication of how far expectations had fallen for Houston this season, that matchup was towards the lowly Dallas Mavericks. Simply two video games in, expectations are already on the rise.
Contents
Rockets-Spurs Was the Rockets’ First Actual Check
Oct 23, 2026; Austin, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets middle Alperen Sengun (28) and teammates react after Sengun scored whereas drawing a foul through the second half towards the San Antonio Spurs at Moody Middle. Obligatory Credit score: Scott Wachter-Imagn Photographs
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs had been a staff that seemed like that they had Houston’s quantity final season. That they had lots of groups’ quantity, therefore winding up because the second-last staff standing, making all of it the way in which to the NBA Finals.
Commercial
Specifically, although, the Rockets seemed like that they had an Amen Thompson downside in Thompson’s matchup with Wembanyama.
That matchup seemed much less problematic for the Rockets on Friday night time, because the signature second of it was Thompson swatting Wembanyama’s last-second shot try to tie. The block, which was on a post-up with Thompson as Wembanyama’s main defender, sealed the sport for Houston.
Thompson additionally scored 20 factors on 9-of-15 capturing, pulled in 10 rebounds, and added 4 assists and two steals to go along with his two blocks. He even made 1-of-2 three-pointers.
Caveats to Thompson’s Nice Evening
There are some caveats to Thompson’s revenge recreation versus the Spurs, although. For one factor, Thompson was the one Rockets starter with a damaging plus/minus. In 36 minutes of playtime, the Rockets had been outscored by 12 factors.
Commercial
That is regardless of the Spurs declining to deploy their “secret” weapon towards him. Wembanyama spent a lot of the recreation defending Alperen Şengün, slightly than Thompson.
Lastly, Wembanyama is off to a bumpy begin to 2026-27 basically. The seven-foot-“4” Frenchman went 9-of-21 from the sector towards the Rockets, which was a serious enchancment on the 1-of-13 he managed within the Spurs’ opener.
Wembanyama’s affect is rarely restricted to simply his scoring. He has eight blocks already, two video games into the season. However he did not appear fairly ready for simply how exhausting opponents had been going to lock in on shutting down his offense in 2026-27. The Spurs offense is not fairly in Finals kind simply but.
Why Houston’s Offense Seems to be Higher
None of that must be overly regarding to Rockets followers. Proper now, the staff is wholesome and firing on all cylinders.
Commercial
Fred VanVleet’s return has made the Rockets’ offense look truly purposeful. His 14 factors on 4-of-10 capturing to go together with 5 assists towards the Spurs undersells the affect he is already having in contrast along with his absence final season.
Şengün led all scorers within the recreation with 29 factors on 10-of-20 capturing from the ground towards the most effective defender within the NBA. He even went 4-of-6 within the fourth quarter, bamboozling San Antonio’s protection. Not solely are Şengün All-NBA predictions wanting robust early, however, up to now, the work of the Rockets’ new capturing coach seems to be paying dividends as nicely.
Thompson and Şengün Are Capturing Threes
Capturing coach Chris Engelland labored extensively with Thompson and Şengün on their capturing this offseason. Both of them changing into non-liabilities from deep can be a legitimately era-defining improvement for the Rockets.
Commercial
Nicely, within the win versus the Spurs, Şengün shot 2-of-4 from three, together with scoring the primary three factors of the sport. He shot 2-of-2 towards the Mavericks as nicely.
Şengün began robust from three in 2025-26 earlier than really fizzling out. One encouraging distinction this time round is that Thompson can also be already 2-for-4 from three on the season.
The low quantity makes the numbers themselves imply little or no, but it surely’s possible a degree of emphasis for neither participant to pressure three-pointers. The shot is rarely going to be what their recreation is constructed round, but when they’ve the boldness to shoot them when broad open, defenses must rethink their method to Houston’s offense.
Add to the excellent news that Jabari Smith Jr. dropped a near-career-high 30 factors within the Rockets opener, VanVleet grabbing at his leg throughout Friday night time’s recreation turned out to be nothing, and Kevin Durant at 38 predictably nonetheless seems like Kevin Durant at 37.
Commercial
The Final Phrase
The Rockets will play once more on Saturday night time versus the Atlanta Hawks of their first back-to-back of the season. Hopefully the staff will take the cautious method and relaxation returning gamers like VanVleet and Steven Adams. If Reed Sheppard can return from his beforehand day-to-day listed knee damage, even higher. Busy within the midst of a back-to-back, the Rockets are again in enterprise as a potential contender for the NBA title.
Featured Picture: Scott Wachter-Imagn Photographs
Extra NBA Information:
Rockets Predictions For 2026-27: Guard Minutes, STOCKs, and Very Massive Males
Knicks-Celtics Takeaways After New York’s Robust Loss In Boston
A Raptors Assertion Win Units the Tone for the Kawhi Leonard Period
