For most of the night, the Houston Rockets were reacting instead of dictating. The San Antonio Spurs controlled pace early, shot the ball confidently, and played with a level of comfort that suggested the game was unfolding on their terms.
That control held through three quarters. Then, the fourth quarter arrived, and the Rockets’ rally against the Spurs took shape through a mix of defensive urgency, steadier execution, and timely contributions, including a measured but important stretch from Reed Sheppard.
San Antonio opened the game aggressively, scoring 39 points in the first quarter and leaning heavily on perimeter shooting. The Spurs repeatedly punished late closeouts, forcing Houston into early rotations and scrambling recoveries. Even as the Rockets settled offensively in the second quarter, they still went into halftime trailing 70–60.
The third quarter followed a similar rhythm. San Antonio briefly extended the lead to 16, capitalizing on transition chances and second looks. At that point, the Rockets needed more than a scoring run. They needed to change how the game was being played.
Reed Sheppard’s Takeover Sparks Rockets Win Over Spurs
That change began defensively. Houston opened the fourth quarter with sharper on-ball pressure and more decisive rotations. Passing lanes tightened, help arrived earlier, and San Antonio’s shooters stopped finding clean looks.
The Spurs went 0-for-13 from three-point range in the fourth quarter, a collapse that fundamentally altered the game. Each empty possession fueled Houston’s belief that the margin could be erased.
This defensive stretch laid the groundwork for the Rockets, but Houston still needed structure on the other end to take advantage.
This is where Reed Sheppard mattered: not as a one-man show, but as a stabilizer within the offense.
Reed Sheppard Fits Into the Moment
Coming off the bench, Sheppard provided scoring when Houston needed it, finishing with 21 points overall. More importantly, several of his baskets came during the stretch when the Rockets were chipping away rather than closing. He hit open shots, moved the ball quickly, and avoided forcing plays when pressure increased.
Early in the fourth, Sheppard initiated a key sequence by swinging the ball to Kevin Durant for a clean look, then followed it with a confident three on the next possession. Moments later, his anticipation defensively helped generate a second-chance opportunity that further tilted momentum.
Sheppard complemented possessions. That distinction mattered in a game where Houston’s late-game execution has often unraveled.
Veterans Close the Gap and Seal It
As the margin tightened, Houston’s core took over. Alperen Sengun anchored the offense with 20 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists, consistently drawing attention in the paint and punishing mismatches. His playmaking prevented San Antonio from overloading on Houston’s perimeter options.
Durant added 18 points and seven assists, commanding defensive gravity even without forcing shots. Jabari Smith Jr. contributed 17 points, hitting timely jumpers as Houston pulled ahead, while Amen Thompson filled multiple roles with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.
Houston finally reclaimed the lead with just under five minutes remaining. From there, the game slowed. The Rockets valued possessions, limited transition opportunities, and forced the Spurs into late-clock decisions.
A Different Kind of Finish
What separated this win from recent losses was control. Houston did not rely on difficult isolation shots or frantic possessions. Instead, the Rockets trusted spacing, timing, and defensive discipline.
Head coach Ime Udoka emphasized that postgame, pointing to improved perimeter defense and cleaner execution after halftime.
“We started guarding. We got stops and followed the game plan and personnel much better than in the first half, when we gave up a lot of 3-pointers and had a lot of missed assignments. We saw that at the half, cleaned that up, and we were in good shape.”
The Rockets’ win over the Spurs was defined by balance. Reed Sheppard provided a spark without disrupting structure, the veterans closed without forcing action, and the defense carried the final quarter.
For a team still searching for consistency late, this comeback offered something more valuable than a win: a template.
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