WhyTheyWon
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FINALOct 23Moody Center
Houston Rockets logo
HOUHouston Rockets
114Winner
San Antonio Spurs logo
SASan Antonio Spurs
110
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
HOU30312429114
SA26332229110

Game analysis: Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs

How the Rockets Beat the Spurs

Houston's late-game execution separated it from San Antonio in a back-and-forth finish. The game featured 14 lead changes and 32 ties before the Spurs moved ahead again with 4:19 remaining. Alperen Sengun answered 30 seconds later to put the Rockets back in front for good and finished with 29 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Houston held on despite San Antonio scoring more in the paint, on the fast break and off turnovers.

The biggest reason

Clutch Execution

Clutch scoringHOU 13vsSA 9

Also mattered

  • +8%3PT shooting
  • +18%Free-throw shooting
  • +4Rebounds

Game flow

When the lead changed

HOU (away)SA (home)

HOU's biggest lead was 11 points · SA's was 1 point · 14 lead changes

-150+15Q1 11:10 · HOU 3–SA 0Q1 10:57 · HOU 3–SA 2Q1 9:54 · HOU 6–SA 2Q1 9:45 · HOU 6–SA 5Q1 9:28 · HOU 8–SA 5Q1 8:47 · HOU 3–SA 2Q1 8:38 · HOU 8–SA 5Q1 8:14 · HOU 10–SA 5Q1 7:52 · HOU 10–SA 6Q1 7:26 · HOU 10–SA 9Q1 7:03 · HOU 10–SA 11Q1 6:53 · HOU 12–SA 11Q1 6:44 · HOU 12–SA 13Q1 6:06 · HOU 15–SA 13Q1 5:41 · HOU 15–SA 16Q1 5:14 · HOU 17–SA 16Q1 4:54 · HOU 17–SA 17Q1 4:36 · HOU 19–SA 17Q1 4:24 · HOU 19–SA 18Q1 4:24 · HOU 19–SA 19Q1 4:05 · HOU 21–SA 19Q1 3:52 · HOU 21–SA 21Q1 3:46 · HOU 22–SA 21Q1 3:46 · HOU 23–SA 21Q1 3:37 · HOU 8–SA 5Q1 3:12 · HOU 10–SA 5Q1 2:56 · HOU 25–SA 21Q1 2:55 · HOU 21–SA 17Q1 2:55 · HOU 10–SA 5Q1 2:55 · HOU 10–SA 6Q1 2:55 · HOU 12–SA 10Q1 2:45 · HOU 21–SA 17Q1 2:45 · HOU 10–SA 6Q1 2:23 · HOU 25–SA 21Q1 2:15 · HOU 12–SA 5Q1 2:06 · HOU 13–SA 5Q1 2:04 · HOU 28–SA 22Q1 2:02 · HOU 15–SA 6Q1 1:59 · HOU 13–SA 5Q1 1:55 · HOU 13–SA 7Q1 1:45 · HOU 28–SA 24Q1 1:45 · HOU 14–SA 8Q1 1:45 · HOU 15–SA 8Q1 1:32 · HOU 13–SA 7Q1 1:27 · HOU 17–SA 13Q1 1:03 · HOU 19–SA 13Q1 53.4 · HOU 17–SA 11Q1 17.0 · HOU 17–SA 14Q1 0.0 · HOU 30–SA 26Q2 12:00 · HOU 30–SA 27Q2 11:35 · HOU 32–SA 27Q2 11:04 · HOU 33–SA 27Q2 11:04 · HOU 36–SA 27Q2 10:52 · HOU 36–SA 30Q2 10:35 · HOU 38–SA 30Q2 10:04 · HOU 41–SA 30Q2 9:24 · HOU 41–SA 33Q2 9:09 · HOU 42–SA 33Q2 9:09 · HOU 43–SA 33Q2 8:30 · HOU 43–SA 36Q2 6:54 · HOU 43–SA 38Q2 6:34 · HOU 43–SA 40Q2 6:05 · HOU 45–SA 40Q2 5:12 · HOU 45–SA 42Q2 4:53 · HOU 47–SA 42Q2 3:48 · HOU 47–SA 44Q2 3:31 · HOU 49–SA 44Q2 3:07 · HOU 50–SA 44Q2 3:07 · HOU 51–SA 44Q2 2:50 · HOU 51–SA 46Q2 2:43 · HOU 52–SA 46Q2 2:43 · HOU 53–SA 46Q2 2:33 · HOU 53–SA 48Q2 2:15 · HOU 54–SA 48Q2 2:07 · HOU 54–SA 50Q2 1:21 · HOU 54–SA 52Q2 1:21 · HOU 54–SA 53Q2 1:06 · HOU 56–SA 53Q2 54.2 · HOU 56–SA 56Q2 28.1 · HOU 58–SA 56Q2 23.3 · HOU 58–SA 58Q2 23.3 · HOU 58–SA 59Q2 0.0 · HOU 61–SA 59Q3 11:28 · HOU 61–SA 60Q3 10:46 · HOU 61–SA 62Q3 10:43 · HOU 62–SA 62Q3 10:43 · HOU 63–SA 62Q3 10:08 · HOU 66–SA 62Q3 9:29 · HOU 68–SA 62Q3 8:24 · HOU 68–SA 64Q3 8:07 · HOU 68–SA 66Q3 7:06 · HOU 70–SA 66Q3 6:51 · HOU 70–SA 68Q3 6:31 · HOU 72–SA 68Q3 6:03 · HOU 75–SA 68Q3 5:15 · HOU 76–SA 68Q3 4:56 · HOU 78–SA 68Q3 4:41 · HOU 78–SA 69Q3 3:23 · HOU 78–SA 72Q3 3:04 · HOU 80–SA 72Q3 2:42 · HOU 80–SA 73Q3 2:42 · HOU 80–SA 74Q3 2:01 · HOU 82–SA 74Q3 1:26 · HOU 82–SA 76Q3 1:13 · HOU 84–SA 76Q3 1:13 · HOU 85–SA 76Q3 1:07 · HOU 85–SA 79Q3 46.1 · HOU 85–SA 80Q3 46.1 · HOU 85–SA 81Q4 11:45 · HOU 85–SA 83Q4 10:59 · HOU 86–SA 83Q4 10:59 · HOU 87–SA 83Q4 10:38 · HOU 89–SA 83Q4 10:38 · HOU 90–SA 83Q4 9:50 · HOU 90–SA 86Q4 9:31 · HOU 93–SA 86Q4 9:19 · HOU 93–SA 88Q4 9:19 · HOU 93–SA 89Q4 8:56 · HOU 93–SA 91Q4 8:34 · HOU 96–SA 91Q4 7:52 · HOU 96–SA 93Q4 7:18 · HOU 96–SA 95Q4 6:08 · HOU 96–SA 96Q4 6:08 · HOU 96–SA 97Q4 5:51 · HOU 98–SA 97Q4 5:51 · HOU 99–SA 97Q4 5:40 · HOU 99–SA 99Q4 5:15 · HOU 101–SA 99Q4 4:58 · HOU 101–SA 101Q4 4:36 · HOU 102–SA 101Q4 4:36 · HOU 103–SA 101Q4 4:19 · HOU 103–SA 104Q4 3:49 · HOU 105–SA 104Q4 3:14 · HOU 106–SA 104Q4 2:42 · HOU 108–SA 104Q4 2:42 · HOU 109–SA 104Q4 2:27 · HOU 109–SA 105Q4 2:27 · HOU 109–SA 106Q4 1:49 · HOU 109–SA 108Q4 1:34 · HOU 112–SA 108Q4 46.1 · HOU 112–SA 110Q4 0.6 · HOU 113–SA 110Q4 0.6 · HOU 114–SA 110Q4 0.1 · HOU 112–SA 110Q4 0.0 · HOU 114–SA 110Q4 0:00 · HOU 114–SA 110Q1Q2Q3Q4

Quarter-by-quarter momentum

Quarter winners and scoring margin
  1. Q1Biggest margin
    Houston Rockets logoHOU30
    San Antonio Spurs logoSA26
    HOU won by 4
  2. Q2
    Houston Rockets logoHOU31
    San Antonio Spurs logoSA33
    SA won by 2
  3. Q3
    Houston Rockets logoHOU24
    San Antonio Spurs logoSA22
    HOU won by 2
  4. Q4
    Houston Rockets logoHOU29
    San Antonio Spurs logoSA29
    Quarter tied

Game turning points

Moments identified from the scoring timeline
  1. Final lead changeQ4 · 3:49

    Houston Rockets went ahead and did not trail again.

    Houston Rockets logoHOU 105SA 104San Antonio Spurs logo
  2. Late-game pressureQ4 · 1:34

    The game was within five points late, with Houston Rockets ahead.

    Houston Rockets logoHOU 112SA 108San Antonio Spurs logo

Momentum swings

Key stretches

4 stretches · runs and momentum swings
  1. Q2 · 12:00–10:04
    Houston Rockets logoHouston Rockets11–3stretch

    HOU 30 – SA 27HOU 41 – SA 30

  2. Q2 · 10:04–23.3Biggest stretch
    San Antonio Spurs logoSan Antonio Spurs29–17stretch

    HOU 41 – SA 30HOU 58 – SA 59

  3. Q3 · 10:46–4:56
    Houston Rockets logoHouston Rockets17–6stretch

    HOU 61 – SA 62HOU 78 – SA 68

  4. Q4 · 9:31–6:08
    San Antonio Spurs logoSan Antonio Spurs11–3stretch

    HOU 93 – SA 86HOU 96 – SA 97

Players who shaped the game

Player impact

From the box score
Houston Rockets logo

Houston Rockets

HOU
  1. Leading scorerAlperen Sengun
    29PTS7REB7AST0STL1BLK
  2. Impact contributorAmen Thompson
    20PTS10REB4AST2STL2BLK
  3. Impact contributorKevin Durant
    20PTS7REB6AST0STL0BLK
San Antonio Spurs logo

San Antonio Spurs

SA
  1. Leading scorerVictor Wembanyama
    25PTS13REB2AST0STL2BLK
  2. Impact contributorDe'Aaron Fox
    19PTS4REB9AST2STL0BLK
  3. Impact contributorStephon Castle
    15PTS7REB5AST1STL0BLK

Team performance

Biggest advantages and setbacks

What the winner did best—and what it overcame

Advantages

  1. Free-throw shootingWinner edge

    Houston Rockets had a 18 percentage points edge in free-throw shooting.

    HOU 90%SA 72%
  2. Three-point shootingWinner edge

    Houston Rockets had a 8 percentage points edge in three-point shooting.

    HOU 40%SA 32%
  3. AssistsWinner edge

    Houston Rockets had a 4 edge in assists.

    HOU 25SA 21

Setbacks

The winner did not trail in a major comparison.

The numbers behind the win

Evidence

5 signals

Clutch scoring

With the game tied entering the final 4:58, the Rockets created the scoring edge that decided the close finish.

Houston Rockets logoHOU13
San Antonio Spurs logoSA9

Three-point shooting

Houston held the stronger efficiency from beyond the arc in a game where the overall shooting margin was much narrower.

Houston Rockets logoHOU40%
San Antonio Spurs logoSA32%

Free-throw shooting

The Rockets converted their opportunities at the line at a substantially higher rate.

Houston Rockets logoHOU90%
San Antonio Spurs logoSA72%

Rebounding

Houston finished with a modest overall advantage on the glass despite San Antonio collecting one more offensive rebound.

Houston Rockets logoHOU44
San Antonio Spurs logoSA40
Editorial turning point

Houston took a 105-104 lead with 3:49 remaining

Sengun put Houston back ahead after San Antonio had taken the lead, and the Spurs never regained it.

This game’s Winning DNA

How Houston Rockets got it done.

The winning formula behind this game.

Houston Rockets logo

Houston Rockets

Clutch Execution
40%
Superstar Performance
25%
3PT Shooting
20%
Rebounding
15%

Editorial weights for this game — not fan-vote percentages or official NBA statistics.

Team Comparison

Houston Rockets logoHouston Rockets114 PTSVSMoody CenterSan Antonio Spurs logoSan Antonio Spurs110 PTS
38-78FG40-87
10-253PT12-37
28-31FT18-25
44REB40
25AST21
11STL10
5BLK3
15TO15

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