San Antonio looked cooked early. Down 16 points and struggling to string together stops, the Spurs were staring at another frustrating night. Then Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle flipped the script.
Behind Wembanyama’s two-way dominance and Castle’s fearless shot-making, the Spurs stormed back to beat the Rockets 111-99, turning a sluggish start into one of their most impressive wins of the season. San Antonio shot 53.7% from the field, owned the paint, and completely changed the energy after halftime.
1. Wembanyama Took Over Both Ends
Victor Wembanyama delivered a monster line: 28 points, 16 rebounds, and 5 blocks in just 29 minutes. He shot 8-of-15 from the field and lived at the foul line, going 12-of-15. Every time Houston tried to reassert control, Wembanyama answered with a finish at the rim, a putback, or a defensive play that shifted momentum.
Defensively, he erased mistakes. The Spurs had 8 total blocks, and Wembanyama accounted for most of the fear factor inside. Houston managed only 48 points in the paint, well below San Antonio’s 72, and shot just 39.4% overall. His presence alone forced rushed shots and altered drives that never showed up in the box score.
2. Stephon Castle Played Like A Veteran
Castle appears more self-assured in critical situations. In 33 minutes, he finished with 16 points, shooting 7-of-12, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals. He was aggressive in close-out defending, ran the fast break, and made offensively productive, quick decisions.
His calmness was pivotal in the comeback. There were 28 assists on 44 made shots for San Antonio, and Castle’s efforts helped the team as he was the most composed in the starting five. In spite of Houston’s 12 steals, Castle was limited to 2 turnovers, showing self-control that’s commendable for a young guard.
3. De’Aaron Fox Set The Tempo
De’Aaron Fox didn’t force the scoring, but he orchestrated everything. He put up 18 points and 8 assists on an efficient 6-of-11 shooting, hit 2-of-5 from three, and knocked down all four free throws. His pace changed the game once San Antonio started running.
The Spurs dominated transition with 21 fast-break points compared to Houston’s 5. That gap flipped the game. Fox repeatedly pushed after misses, finding Castle on the wing or Wembanyama trailing down the middle. Houston had led most of the night (71% of game time), but once the game sped up, they couldn’t keep up.
4. The Bench Swung The Game
San Antonio’s bench gave the first definitive positive contribution to the game. Keldon Johnson finished with 17 points on 8-of-15 shooting. He also had 7 rebounds and 5 assists, ending the game with a plus/minus of +18. Dylan Harper, a rookie, also added a +18 in only 22 minutes of play, scoring 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting.
The Spurs had to outlast this bench burst to the Rockets, the Spurs’ bench shooting 53.7% to outshoot the Rockets 39-of-99 (39.4%). Most clearly, the Spurs showed bench rest confidence today, extending the lead rather than giving it back. This is a clear positive, showing a clear change from the earlier games in the season.
5. Spurs Won The Interior Battle Decisively
San Antonio pounded the paint for 72 points, compared to Houston’s 48. That wasn’t just Wembanyama – the Spurs consistently cut, posted, and attacked gaps. They also cleaned up the glass defensively, pulling down 38 defensive rebounds to limit second chances after Houston grabbed 17 offensive boards.
Even with Houston generating extra possessions, they couldn’t convert efficiently. Alperen Sengun needed 20 shots for 18 points and missed four free throws, while the Rockets as a team hit just 13-of-18 at the line. San Antonio’s rim pressure and interior efficiency ultimately overwhelmed a Houston team that settled too often.
