Game ID: 22400844
San Antonio Spurs @ Houston Rockets
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at 9:30 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 34 30 37 17 118SAS 20 26 29 31 106
HOU vs SAS ScoutingHOU vs SAS Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
HOU availability going into 2/13 · back-to-backOUT VanVleet missed 6 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 21 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 54 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 2/04 after 3, 29 min since (92% of 32)
BACK Landale back 2/06 after 2, 19 min since (165% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 2/09 after 4, 20 min since (170% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Eason 24 to 31 min over the last 3
NEW Whitmore 15 to 24 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 2/21 · 7 days' restOUT VanVleet missed 7 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 22 since 1/03, returns tonight: 38 min (131% of 29)
OUT Dante missed 55 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Landale back 2/06 after 2, 18 min since (155% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 2/09 after 4, 20 min since (178% of 12)
NEW Eason 24 to 31 min over the last 3
NEW Whitmore 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 13 to 22 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 2/22 · back-to-backOUT VanVleet missed 8 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 56 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/21 after 22, 38 min since (131% of 29)
BACK Jef. Green back 2/09 after 4, 20 min since (178% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Eason 24 to 30 min over the last 3
NEW Holiday 13 to 21 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 2/25 · 2 days' restOUT VanVleet missed 9 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 57 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/21 after 22, 34 min since (116% of 29)
BACK Jef. Green back 2/09 after 4, 21 min since (184% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 13 to 25 min over the last 4
NEW Landale 12 to 17 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 2/26 · back-to-backOUT VanVleet missed 10 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Adams missed 2 since 2/22, returns tonight: 19 min (128% of 15)
OUT Dante missed 58 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/21 after 22, 33 min since (115% of 29)
NEW Eason 24 to 31 min over the last 3
NEW Holiday 13 to 22 min over the last 4
NEW Jef. Green 12 to 19 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 3/01 · 2 days' restOUT VanVleet missed 11 since 2/03, returns tonight: 35 min (97% of 36)
OUT Dante missed 59 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/21 after 22, 33 min since (114% of 29)
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 19 min since (128% of 15)
NEW Holiday 13 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Jef. Green 12 to 19 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Dante missed 60 since 10/23, returns tonight: 19 min (146% of 13)
BACK VanVleet back 3/01 after 11, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/21 after 22, 31 min since (106% of 29)
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 13 min since (90% of 15)
NEW Jef. Green 12 to 18 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 3/04 · back-to-backBACK VanVleet back 3/01 after 11, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 13 min since (90% of 15)
BACK Dante back 3/03 after 60, 19 min since (146% of 13)
NEW Jef. Green 12 to 18 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 14 min since (95% of 15)
BACK Dante back 3/03 after 60, 19 min since (146% of 13)
NEW Sheppard 12 to 17 min over the last 3
SAS availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT Bassey missed 5 since 2/05, out tonight
BACK Wesley back 2/12 after 4, 0 min since (3% of 12)
BACK Mamukelashvili back 2/10 after 3, 4 min since (33% of 11)
SAS availability going into 2/21 · back-to-backOUT Bassey missed 6 since 2/05, returns tonight: 11 min (106% of 10)
BACK Wesley back 2/12 after 4, 0 min since (3% of 12)
BACK Mamukelashvili back 2/10 after 3, 4 min since (33% of 11)
SAS availability going into 2/23 · 1 day's restBACK Wesley back 2/12 after 4, 2 min since (16% of 12)
BACK Mamukelashvili back 2/10 after 3, 10 min since (88% of 11)
BACK Bassey back 2/21 after 6, 11 min since (106% of 10)
SAS availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restBACK Wesley back 2/12 after 4, 2 min since (15% of 12)
BACK Mamukelashvili back 2/10 after 3, 9 min since (82% of 11)
BACK Bassey back 2/21 after 6, 8 min since (81% of 10)
SAS availability going into 2/26 · back-to-backBACK Wesley back 2/12 after 4, 2 min since (15% of 12)
BACK Bassey back 2/21 after 6, 8 min since (81% of 10)
SAS availability going into 3/01 · 2 days' restOUT Bassey missed 2 since 2/25, out tonight
SAS availability going into 3/02 · back-to-backOUT Bassey missed 3 since 2/25, out tonight
SAS availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Bassey missed 4 since 2/25, out tonight
SAS availability going into 3/07 · 2 days' restOUT Bassey missed 5 since 2/25, out tonight
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Sengun at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without VanVleet (10 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 30 from three, 20 free throws a game; Fox at 21 and Johnson at 15 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-5 a night and San Antonio minus-13 and the arc, Houston at 37 percent from three to San Antonio's 30. Call it Houston 114, San Antonio 109.
2/13 vs GSW 98-105 — HOU notes
HOU lost 98-105. HOU shot 41% (38 of 93) to GSW's 39%, 12 of 36 from three, and got to the line 18 times to GSW's 27. HOU turned it over 20 times to GSW's 10, and GSW turned those into 13 steals. The glass went 52-42 for them. Holiday led with 25 (10 of 20, 2 of 9 from three); Landale added 13, Williams 11. Q4 was theirs, 28-23, the deficit cut from 12 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 82-70 against them. Sengun's -19 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/21 vs MIN 121-115 — HOU notes
HOU won 121-115. HOU shot 50% (42 of 84) to MIN's 45%, 13 of 26 from three, and went to the line 32 times to MIN's 26 — 24 points from the stripe to their 22. HOU turned it over 20 times to MIN's 9, and MIN turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 48-35 for them. Green led with 35 (12 of 24, 5 of 11 from three, 6 of 9 at the line); Sengun added 24, Thompson 17. The hinge was Q1, 48-38: from level to 10 ahead. Green was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
2/22 @ UTA 115-124 — HOU notes
HOU lost 115-124. HOU shot 44% (44 of 100) to UTA's 50%, 17 of 43 from three, and got to the line 18 times to UTA's 27. The glass went 41-58 against them. Sengun led with 27 (11 of 24, 1 of 3 from three, 4 of 8 at the line); Ja. Green added 25, Thompson 22. Q2 was theirs, 34-27, turning a 1-point deficit into a 6-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 97-81 against them. Ja. Green's -10 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/25 vs MIL 100-97 — HOU notes
HOU won 100-97. HOU shot 41% (37 of 91) to MIL's 40%, 12 of 35 from three. The glass went 53-37 for them. Ja. Green led with 25 (9 of 20, 5 of 11 from three); Sengun added 23, Brooks 16. The hinge was Q1, 30-25: from level to 5 ahead. HOU trailed 57-59 at the half and won the second half 43-38. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
2/26 vs SAS 118-106 — HOU notes
HOU won 118-106. HOU shot 47% (48 of 102) to SAS's 42%, 11 of 38 from three, and got to the line 14 times to SAS's 21. HOU turned it over 14 times to SAS's 8, and SAS turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 60-41 for them. Thompson led with 25 (12 of 15, 1 of 3 from three); Ja. Green added 21, Brooks 19. The hinge was Q1, 34-20: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 28. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
3/01 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 109, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Sengun at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without VanVleet (11 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; LaVine at 26 and DeRozan at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Houston 115, Sacramento 112, Sacramento keeping it close.
3/03 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 134 a night and allowing 125, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 33 and Jal. Williams at 26 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Green at 26 and Sengun at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 111 a night to OKC's 125 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and OKC minus-0. Call it OKC 119, Houston 113.
3/04 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 113, shooting 53 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Haliburton at 23 and Siakam at 20 a game. Without Mathurin (2 straight), Isa. Jackson (53 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Sengun at 22 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-3 a night and Indiana minus-3. Call it Indiana 117, Houston 112.
3/06 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; Williamson at 26 and Murphy III at 18 a game. Without Brooks Jr. (9 straight), Boston (10 straight), Payton (40 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 114, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Green at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without VanVleet (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and New Orleans minus-0 and the defense, Houston allowing 114 a night to New Orleans's 120. Call it New Orleans 115, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
2/20 vs PHX 120-109 — SAS notes
SAS won 120-109. SAS shot 47% (44 of 93) to PHX's 47%, 15 of 41 from three. SAS turned it over 9 times to PHX's 18. Fox led with 26 (8 of 19, 3 of 7 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Johnson added 15, Champagnie 15. The hinge was Q1, 31-21: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Vassell was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
2/21 vs DET 110-125 — SAS notes
SAS lost 110-125. SAS shot 51% (43 of 84) to DET's 50%, 10 of 29 from three. The glass went 32-53 against them. Johnson led with 28 (11 of 13, 5 of 9 at the line); Fox added 27, Castle 12. Q2 was theirs, 35-27, the deficit cut from 9 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 98-75 against them. They led by as many as 10. Fox's -35 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/23 @ NOP 96-114 — SAS notes
SAS lost 96-114. SAS shot 33% (32 of 97) to NOP's 45%, 15 of 51 from three. SAS turned it over 10 times to NOP's 16. The glass went 46-69 against them. Johnson led with 18 (7 of 9, 2 of 3 from three); Champagnie added 18, Fox 13. Q2 was theirs, 23-14, but the other 3 periods went 100-73 against them. They led by as many as 17. Biyombo's -26 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/25 @ NOP 103-109 — SAS notes
SAS lost 103-109. SAS shot 41% (38 of 93) to NOP's 44%, 13 of 44 from three, and got to the line 18 times to NOP's 25. Vassell led with 20 (6 of 16, 2 of 6 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Fox added 15, Barnes 15. Q1 was theirs, 30-16, but the other 3 periods went 93-73 against them. They led by as many as 19. Sochan's -17 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/26 @ HOU 106-118 — SAS notes
SAS lost 106-118. SAS shot 42% (42 of 100) to HOU's 47%, 7 of 39 from three, and went to the line 21 times to HOU's 14 — 15 points from the stripe to their 11. SAS turned it over 8 times to HOU's 14. The glass went 41-60 against them. Castle led with 22 (9 of 22, 1 of 7 from three); Johnson added 22, Mamukelashvili 12. Q4 was theirs, 31-17, the deficit cut from 26 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 101-75 against them. Biyombo's -21 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/01 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 124, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Morant at 22 and Jackson Jr. at 20 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 29 from three, 22 free throws a game; Johnson at 19 and Fox at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been minus-0 a night and San Antonio minus-13 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 115 a night to Memphis's 124. Call it Memphis 119, San Antonio 114.
3/02 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 22 free throws a game; Johnson at 19 and Fox at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 14 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 120, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Jal. Williams at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where OKC has been minus-1 a night and San Antonio minus-14 and the arc, OKC at 41 percent from three to San Antonio's 30. Call it OKC 120, San Antonio 113.
3/04 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 123, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 20 free throws a game; Castle at 17 and Fox at 15 a game. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 115, shooting 40 percent and 30 from three, 26 free throws a game; C. Johnson at 17 and Williams at 13 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Russell (5 straight), Evbuomwan (2 straight), Clowney (13 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been minus-0 a night and San Antonio minus-12 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 115 a night to San Antonio's 123. Call it San Antonio 114, Brooklyn 111, Brooklyn keeping it close.
3/07 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 101, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 15 free throws a game; LaVine at 25 and DeRozan at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Sabonis (2 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Vassell at 20 and Castle at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, Sacramento allowing 101 a night to San Antonio's 123 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-5 a night and San Antonio minus-6. Call it Sacramento 120, San Antonio 111.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SASBB B. Biyombo
BW B. Wesley
CP C. Paul
DF D. Fox
DV D. Vassell
HB H. Barnes
JC J. Champagnie
JM J. McLaughlin
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
MB M. Branham
SC S. Castle
SM S. Mamukelashvili
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CW C. Whitmore
DB D. Brooks
JG J. Green
JL J. Landale
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
NW N. Williams
RS R. Sheppard
SA S. Adams
SAS/HOU the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Amen Thompson scores 25 points in the Rockets' 118-106 victory over the Spurs
HOUSTON -- — Amen Thompson had 25 points and eight rebounds, Jalen Green added 21 points and seven rebounds and the Houston Rockets beat the San Antonio Spurs 118-106 on Wednesday night.
Green scored 16 points in the first half to help Houston take a 64-46 lead. Thompson was ejected Tuesday night against Milwaukee for pulling down Giannis Antetokounmpo by the head and neck.
Dillon Brooks had 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting from 3-point range for Houston. The Rockets have won three of four since the All-Star break.
Keldon Johnson scored 22 points, and Stephon Castle added 22 points and seven rebounds for San Antonio. The Spurs have lost four straight.
De’Aaron Fox had seven points on 3-of-12 shooting for Spurs. Jeremy Sochan scored seven points but did not play in the second half for precautionary reasons after getting hit in the head.
Takeaways Spurs: San Antonio got most of its production out of its bench, with the backups scoring 79 points and the starters 27 on 11-of-35 shooting.
Rockets: Houston has outrebounded its opponents by at least 13 in each of its three wins since the All-Star break. The Rockets had a 60-41 edge over the Spurs.
Key moment The Rockets took a 23-7 lead on a dunk by Alperen Sengun midway through the first quarter. The advantage never dipped below double-figures the rest of the way.
Key stat Houston shot 11 of 38 on 3-pointers. San Antonio was 7 of 39.
Up next Both teams are back in action Saturday night. The Spurs are at Memphis, and the Rockets host Sacramento.