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Wembanyama, Sochan help Spurs fend out hard-charging Rockets to win home opener, 109-106
SAN ANTONIO (AP) Victor Wembanyama scored 29 points, Jeremy Sochan added 17 points and 12 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs held on to beat the Houston Rockets 109-106 on Saturday night in their home opener.
Wembanyama added seven rebounds and three blocks while shooting 10 for 17 from the field.
Chris Paul added three points and nine assists, including a drive and feed to Sochan for an open layup that put San Antonio up 104-99 with 1:35 remaining.
After trailing by 22 points in the first half, Houston was within one possession for much of the final minutes. The Rockets went on a 21-8 run in the opening six minutes of the final quarter, turning an 18-point deficit into a 95-90 lead for San Antonio.
Jalen Green had 27 points for Houston. Fred VanVleet added 18 and Dillon Brooks had 16.
Rockets: Houston wasted a good finish with a poor start. After shooting 34% through three quarters, including 17% in the second period, the Rockets shot 60% in the final quarter.
Spurs: San Antonio went 2 for 13 on 3-pointers after opening the game 6 for 7.
After struggling mightily at times last season to get the ball into Wembanyama’s hands around the rim, a pair of passes from Paul yielded much promise and thunderous celebrations. Paul’s first lob resulted in an alley-oop dunk for Wembanyama with 2:12 remaining in the first half that put the Spurs up 57-38. Paul and Wembanyama repeated the alley-oop dunk a minute later, giving the Spurs a 59-38 advantage.
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich has stressed the need for his team to be more physical and the Spurs responded, outrebounding Houston 57-46.
The Rockets face the Spurs again on Monday to close out a two-game set in San Antonio.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Alperen Sengun vs. Victor Wembanyama (Jabari Smith Jr. gains possession) | ||
| 11:41 |  | Dillon Brooks turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 11:23 | | Harrison Barnes misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:21 | | Jeremy Sochan offensive rebound | ||
| 11:17 | | Harrison Barnes misses two point reverse layup | ||
| 11:15 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 11:09 | | +3 | Dillon Brooks makes three point stepback jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 3-0 |
| 10:54 | | Dillon Brooks personal foul (Jeremy Sochan draws the foul) | ||
| 10:40 | | Julian Champagnie misses two point driving layup | ||
| 10:37 | | Julian Champagnie offensive rebound | ||
| 10:37 | | +2 | Julian Champagnie makes two point tip layup | 3-2 |
| 10:24 | | Victor Wembanyama blocks Alperen Sengun's two point layup | ||
| 10:21 | | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 10:17 | | +3 | Julian Champagnie makes three point running jump shot (Chris Paul assists) | 3-5 |
| 9:57 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point pullup jump shot | 6-5 |
| 9:49 | | +3 | Harrison Barnes makes three point pullup jump shot (Chris Paul assists) | 6-8 |
| 9:36 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point jump shot | ||
| 9:33 | | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | ||
| 9:31 | | Chris Paul turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 9:19 | | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point pullup jump shot | 9-8 |
| 9:01 | | +3 | Victor Wembanyama makes three point pullup jump shot | 9-11 |
| 8:51 | | Jalen Green misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:47 | | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | ||
| 8:43 | | Alperen Sengun personal foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | ||
| 8:35 | | Victor Wembanyama misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:32 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 8:24 | | Victor Wembanyama blocks Alperen Sengun's two point layup | ||
| 8:24 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 8:15 | | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point pullup jump shot | 12-11 |
| 7:58 | | +3 | Victor Wembanyama makes three point pullup jump shot | 12-14 |
| 7:41 | | Dillon Brooks misses two point driving layup | ||
| 7:39 | | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 7:34 | | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point cutting layup (Chris Paul assists) | 12-16 |
| 7:16 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point jump shot (Jabari Smith Jr. assists) | 14-16 |
| 6:50 | | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point jump shot (Harrison Barnes assists) | 14-18 |
| 6:38 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:35 | | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | ||
| 6:31 | | Jeremy Sochan misses two point running layup | ||
| 6:31 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 6:18 | | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:13 | | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 6:03 | | +3 | Chris Paul makes three point jump shot | 14-21 |
| 6:03 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:42 | | +2 | Tari Eason makes two point layup (Alperen Sengun assists) | 16-21 |
| 5:30 | | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point driving layup (Zach Collins assists) | 16-23 |
| 5:16 | | +3 | Dillon Brooks makes three point jump shot (Tari Eason assists) | 19-23 |
| 5:02 | | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point driving layup | 19-25 |
| 4:47 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point pullup jump shot | 22-25 |
| 4:29 | | Blake Wesley misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:27 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 4:18 | | Alperen Sengun misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:15 | | Blake Wesley defensive rebound | ||
| 4:09 | | +3 | Keldon Johnson makes three point jump shot (Blake Wesley assists) | 22-28 |
| 3:48 | | Amen Thompson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:45 | | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 3:34 | | +2 | Harrison Barnes makes two point driving bank jump shot | 22-30 |
| 3:07 | | Amen Thompson misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 3:05 | | Zach Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 3:01 | | Tari Eason blocks Keldon Johnson's two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 2:58 | | Tari Eason defensive rebound | ||
| 2:57 | | +2 | Tari Eason makes two point running dunk | 24-30 |
| 2:57 | | Spurs 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:35 | | Keldon Johnson misses two point layup | ||
| 2:33 | | Keldon Johnson offensive rebound | ||
| 2:32 | | Amen Thompson shooting foul (Keldon Johnson draws the foul) | ||
| 2:32 | | +1 | Keldon Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-31 |
| 2:32 | | +1 | Keldon Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-32 |
| 2:15 | | Tari Eason misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:11 | | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | ||
| 2:03 | | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point layup (Blake Wesley assists) | 24-34 |
| 1:40 | | +2 | Jock Landale makes two point driving layup (Fred VanVleet assists) | 26-34 |
| 1:28 | | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point layup (Zach Collins assists) | 26-36 |
| 1:14 | | Stephon Castle personal foul (Fred VanVleet draws the foul) | ||
| 1:01 | | +2 | Tari Eason makes two point driving layup (Fred VanVleet assists) | 28-36 |
| 0:43 | | +2 | Blake Wesley makes two point driving layup | 28-38 |
| 0:33 | | Fred VanVleet turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 0:21 | | Blake Wesley misses two point driving layup | ||
| 0:18 | | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | ||
| 0:01 | | Blake Wesley shooting foul (Jalen Green draws the foul) | ||
| 0:01 | | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 29-38 |
| 0:01 | | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 30-38 |
| 0:01 | | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 31-38 |
| 0:00 | | Stephon Castle misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Spurs offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:41 | | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point dunk | 31-40 |
| 11:25 | | Reed Sheppard misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:21 | | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 11:09 | | Victor Wembanyama misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 11:06 | | Reed Sheppard defensive rebound | ||
| 10:54 | | Keldon Johnson shooting foul (Jock Landale draws the foul) | ||
| 10:54 | | +1 | Jock Landale makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 32-40 |
| 10:54 | | Jock Landale misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 10:51 | | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 10:40 | | Tari Eason personal foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | ||
| 10:30 | | +2 | Stephon Castle makes two point cutting dunk (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 32-42 |
| 10:30 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 10:17 | | +2 | Cam Whitmore makes two point pullup jump shot (Reed Sheppard assists) | 34-42 |
| 10:02 | | Chris Paul turnover (bad pass) (Tari Eason steals) | ||
| 9:52 | | +2 | Cam Whitmore makes two point driving finger roll layup (Amen Thompson assists) | 36-42 |
| 9:43 | | Victor Wembanyama turnover (lost ball) (Tari Eason steals) | ||
| 9:34 | | +2 | Jock Landale makes two point dunk (Amen Thompson assists) | 38-42 |
| 9:34 | | Spurs 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:13 | | +2 | Malaki Branham makes two point pullup bank jump shot | 38-44 |
| 8:47 | | Reed Sheppard turnover (lost ball) (Chris Paul steals) | ||
| 8:37 | | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point driving finger roll layup (Malaki Branham assists) | 38-46 |
| 8:27 | | Reed Sheppard misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:27 | | Malaki Branham defensive rebound | ||
| 8:17 | | +2 | Malaki Branham makes two point driving reverse layup (Chris Paul assists) | 38-48 |
| 8:00 | | Tari Eason offensive foul (Keldon Johnson draws the foul) | ||
| 8:00 | | Tari Eason turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 7:42 | | Victor Wembanyama misses two point jump shot | ||
| 7:39 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 7:27 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:27 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 7:27 | | Keldon Johnson personal foul (Loose ball) (Cam Whitmore draws the foul) | ||
| 7:12 | | Cam Whitmore misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 7:08 | | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 7:01 | | Victor Wembanyama misses two point alley-oop dunk | ||
| 6:59 | | Cam Whitmore defensive rebound | ||
| 6:57 | | Malaki Branham blocks Cam Whitmore's two point running layup | ||
| 6:57 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 6:55 | | Dillon Brooks misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:54 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 6:54 | | Jeremy Sochan personal foul (Loose ball) (Jabari Smith Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 6:46 | | Fred VanVleet turnover (bad pass) (Jeremy Sochan steals) | ||
| 6:31 | | Malaki Branham misses two point jump shot | ||
| 6:29 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 6:23 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:20 | | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | ||
| 6:20 | | Julian Champagnie turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 6:01 | | Cam Whitmore misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 5:55 | | Alperen Sengun offensive rebound | ||
| 5:55 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point tip layup | ||
| 5:53 | | Malaki Branham defensive rebound | ||
| 5:44 | | Zach Collins misses two point hook shot | ||
| 5:41 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 5:35 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:32 | | Zach Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 5:14 | | Alperen Sengun shooting foul (Julian Champagnie draws the foul) | ||
| 5:14 | | +1 | Julian Champagnie makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 38-49 |
| 5:14 | | +1 | Julian Champagnie makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 38-50 |
| 4:48 | | Alperen Sengun turnover (bad pass) (Jeremy Sochan steals) | ||
| 4:38 | | Stephon Castle misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:34 | | Zach Collins offensive rebound | ||
| 4:28 | | +3 | Harrison Barnes makes three point jump shot (Stephon Castle assists) | 38-53 |
| 4:27 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:07 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point driving layup | ||
| 4:05 | | Harrison Barnes defensive rebound | ||
| 4:03 | | Stephon Castle turnover (discontinue dribble) | ||
| 4:03 | | Stephon Castle blocks Jalen Green's two point driving layup | ||
| 4:03 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 3:45 | | Dillon Brooks misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:41 | | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | ||
| 3:34 | | Alperen Sengun shooting foul (Zach Collins draws the foul) | ||
| 3:34 | | +1 | Zach Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 38-54 |
| 3:34 | | +1 | Zach Collins makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 38-55 |
| 3:22 | | Stephon Castle personal foul (Jalen Green draws the foul) | ||
| 3:07 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 3:05 | | Zach Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 3:01 | | Stephon Castle turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 2:47 | | Jabari Smith Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Stephon Castle steals) | ||
| 2:45 | | Stephon Castle misses two point running layup | ||
| 2:45 | | Spurs offensive rebound | ||
| 2:31 | | Stephon Castle misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:29 | | Amen Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 2:19 | | Harrison Barnes blocks Dillon Brooks's two point driving layup | ||
| 2:13 | | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 2:12 | | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Chris Paul assists) | 38-57 |
| 2:00 | | Victor Wembanyama kicked ball violation | ||
| 1:50 | | Jalen Green misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 1:46 | | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | ||
| 1:37 | |