Alperen Sengun scored 29 points as the Houston Rockets edged the San Antonio Spurs 114-110 on Friday night at Moody Center in Austin, improving to 2-0 to start the 2026-27 NBA season.
Amen Thompson delivered the decisive defensive play, blocking Victor Wembanyama’s potential game-tying layup with less than a second remaining. Fred VanVleet then made two free throws to seal Houston’s victory, leaving San Antonio at 0-2.
Sengun finished with 29 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, shooting 10-for-20 from the field. He scored eight consecutive Houston points in the fourth quarter, repeatedly using his strength to create opportunities near the basket and get to the free-throw line.
Kevin Durant added 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists in a homecoming game for the former University of Texas star. Durant made a crucial three-pointer with 1:34 remaining, helping Houston protect its narrow advantage.
Thompson also recorded 20 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. His late rejection of Wembanyama proved decisive after the Spurs center had helped keep San Antonio within reach.
Wembanyama led the Spurs with 25 points and 13 rebounds, while Dylan Harper contributed 20 points. De’Aaron Fox added 19 points and nine assists, and Stephon Castle finished with 15 points and five assists.
San Antonio had a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds. Wembanyama appeared to make a long three-pointer on the possession before his final drive, but the basket did not count because coach Mitch Johnson had called timeout with five seconds remaining before the shot was released. Thompson then denied Wembanyama at the rim, and VanVleet converted both free throws at the other end.
Houston led 32-27 after the first quarter, but the Spurs responded in the second period. VanVleet’s long three-pointer just before halftime tied the score at 59 after San Antonio had scored nine points across three possessions in the final 1:21.
The teams traded points after the break, with Houston outscoring San Antonio 29-22 in the fourth quarter to secure the win. The Rockets shot 49% from the field and made 28 of 31 free throws, while the Spurs converted 46% of their field-goal attempts.
Although San Antonio was the designated home team, the game was played in Austin as part of the franchise’s efforts to cultivate its regional fan base. The Spurs have played in the city every season since 2022-23, with two more games scheduled there for February.
The Rockets visit the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, while the Spurs travel to Dallas to face the Mavericks the same night.
