Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks to pass over Dillon Brooks #9 of the Houston Rockets in the second half at Frost Bank Center on March 12, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas.Photo: Ronald Cortes / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The Spurs came up short, losing to the Houston Rockets 103 to 101 at the Frost Bank Center on Tuesday night. Tre Jones led the Spurs with 24 points while Jeremy Sochan was close behind with 21 points of his own. It was the team's second loss in a row and now they get ready to take on the Denver Nuggets this Friday.
SPURS POSTGAME QUOTES:
Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich:
(On Tre Jones…)
“Tre is a consummate competitor and he's going to do everything he can to win a game. Simple as that. That's what he does. He's at his best night after night after night, and he'll do anything that needs to be done.”
(On the matchup between Dillion Brooks and Victor Wembanyama…)
“A lot of little guys can get into a big guy like that and make it tough. They double teamed him every time. So, if somebody is going to be guarded that way, everybody else has to participate and you have to do it a different way. We didn't shoot well in the first half from three, but we hung in in the second half and went back and forth. But, as usual in the NBA down the stretch, you got to make shots and Brooks made two threes in a row down there, which gave them a little bit of a separation. That's what it's all about at the end of games.”
(On Sandro Mamukelashvili…)
Sandro was exceptional. He moved well without the ball. He pursued rebounds. He was really good for us tonight.”
Spurs Guard Tre Jones
(On adjusting to Houston’s defense and other guys stepping up…)
“Whoever we're playing, if that's how they play us, other guys are going to have to step up and hit shots. Obviously, Victor is going to get that type of attention a lot throughout his entire career, same with Devin [Vassell]. There were points tonight where Devin couldn't even get open. They're hanging all over him, denying him the ball whenever they could, just trying not to let him get going. We know that they're going to try to take both of them away a lot, and it'll be on the rest of us to hit those open shots when they’re there.”
(On going 4-for-7 from three and his development in that area…)
“I'm continuing to just work on it every single day. Be ready when the shots are there. Do not hesitate at all, look for it and take it confidently. I put up a lot of shots every single day. I make a lot, so just knowing that I can trust my work and knowing that the guys that I'm playing off of get so much attention, I’m going to have open looks. So, just trust in my work and take the shot with confidence.”
(On looking forward to playing in Austin…)
“The thing I remember the most is the fans there, for sure. We got a win there last year, I remember. That was a lot of fun playing in Moody Center. It gets loud in there. I know the fans in Austin that aren't able to make it to as many games here definitely bring that energy there, and that's something that we feel and look forward to. I think it's going to be a lot of fun. We got two fun games that we're looking forward to and can't wait to get to Austin.”
Spurs Forward Victor Wembanyama
(On the challenge of facing Dillon Brooks and the Houston defense…)
“The physicality, the energy, just every night is a challenge. This is a very aggressive team, defensively. So, this is what's hard.”
(On if the Rockets adjust to defending him more aggressively than other teams…)
“I can’t really tell because this is a long season, and teams change strategies mid-season. Some teams have played me several different ways throughout the year, so it really just depends.”