Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs goes up for a dunk in front of Dillon Brooks #9 of the Houston Rockets in the first half at Toyota Center on November 06, 2024 in Houston, Texas. Photo: Tim Warner / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The Rockets have won back-to-back games after silencing the Spurs 127-100 from Houston. Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet tied for a game-high 21 points. VanVleet recorded a double-double with 10 assists and grabbed seven rebounds. Alperen Sengün scored 16 points as Houston improved to 5-and-3. Victor Wembanyama led San Antonio with 15 points and hauled-in six boards to go with three blocks. Julian Champagnie netted 13 points as the Spurs have dropped back-to-back games and fell to 3-and-5.
SPURS INTERIM HEAD COACH MITCH JOHNSON
(On how game speed and spacing have been for them)
“Inconsistent, but at times really good. I think that team (Houston Rockets) is so physical and connected defensively. As much as you can play them not set in the halfcourt helps. So that was the pace. The spacing is part of the speed thing. Doesn’t mean we necessarily have to shoot fast, but we want to get to the spots, we need to get to the corners and try to stretch the defenses out, which will help us operate. We don’t have a bunch of isolation players, so we want to play fast and play with that spacing to try to take advantage of that.”
(On if it is an advantage or disadvantage to play a team four times in less than a month)
“Probably a little bit of both. I don’t think either of us were coming in tonight trying to be too tricky. I think they knew probably what we were trying to do. We knew what they were trying to do and give them credit, they executed their stuff better than we did.”
SPURS FORWARD JULIAN CHAMPAGNIE
(On the importance of spacing)
“I think today we kind of got away from that. There were some other games that we have won, even if we lost – it’s really important for our team. Guys are going to obviously bombard Victor (Wembanyama). A lot of them are putting smaller guys on him too. We have to be able to space the floor, give everybody their space to operate. A lot of times we drive and someone is in the paint or one of our guys is in the paint. Spacing is going to be really important. You also have to shoot the open ones. A lot of times I feel like we passed up some shots, myself included. We have to be ready to shoot as well as space the floor.”
(On what went into the rough start)
“Not good. No bueno. We definitely got to start [better]. I feel like all of the games we have played so far, we have come out with some aggression. It’s never been that bad of a start, so hopefully we respond next game. Not hopefully, we will respond next game. We have to respond next game. It’s no choice. We can’t come out like that. Like coach says, it’s the NBA, if we start like that, every team is going to do that to us, no matter what team. We have to come out and even if they throw the first punch, we have to fight back. Better start next game for sure.”
SPURS GUARD STEPHON CASTLE
(On his first start)
“It felt good just to be out there. Just being able to make an impact early in the game, just really going out there with the same mindset. Having a defensive-minded mindset, just going out there and just playing my game.”
(On his role with the pace of the game and playmaking more with Jeremy Sochan missing time)
“The pace is being able to rebound and push, play-make that way. Not always having to play in halfcourt offense and we also have CP (Chris Paul) so that takes a lot of pressure off me as a playmaker, but also being able to take pressure off him as a playmaker. Using my rebounding and doing that and also playing fast.”
ROCKETS HEAD COACH IME UDOKA
(On what caused such an offensive surge tonight)
“I think good defense, stops, get out in transition quite a bit and moved the ball. We got some matchups we like as well, but I think defense really ignited our offense tonight. [They had] 38 points in the first half 19, 19, and so, at that point we guarded well and scored 31, 32, so, that's what it was."
(On the team playing more consistently)
"Yes, it was a really good first half like I mentioned on both ends. Two 19 point quarters, and 31, 32 for us, we were doing it on both ends there. I think other than the start of the third a little bit, you know they got some three's and offensive rebounds. We [had] a really business-like approach to it and I was going to nit-pick a little bit and find something but that start of the third was the only hiccup we had for the most part."