Houston protects its lead with a final defensive stop
Amen Thompson blocked Victor Wembanyama’s attempt to tie the game in the final second as the Houston Rockets defeated the San Antonio Spurs 114–110 at Moody Center in Austin on Friday, October 23. The result came on Saturday morning, October 24, in the Philippines.
The decisive possession brought two of the league’s most athletic players together at the basket. San Antonio found Wembanyama close to the rim, but Thompson’s intervention kept Houston in front and prevented the Spurs from forcing an additional period.
Alperen Şengün supplied 29 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for Houston. He made 10 of his 20 field-goal attempts, giving the Rockets a consistent interior option in a game that remained unsettled until its last possession. Thompson contributed 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Kevin Durant also scored 20.
Wembanyama finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds for San Antonio. The Spurs recovered from an 11-point deficit to give themselves a chance at the end, but their final opportunity ran into Thompson’s block.
Houston improved to 2–0, while San Antonio dropped to 0–2. The narrow finish left a clear distinction between the teams: the Rockets combined Şengün’s scoring and distribution with the defensive play needed to protect the result. For the Spurs, a competitive recovery still ended without their first victory.