Rockets Hang Tough, Falter Down The Stretch In 115-107 Loss To Spurs

Final Score: San Antonio 115, Houston 107

Houston, TX (Sports Network) – Tony Parker had 21 points to lead eight Spurs in double digits and San Antonio held on for a 115-107 victory over Houston.

Manu Ginobili added 19 points while Tim Duncan had just 11, but four of them came in the final 1:09 after the Rockets came back to tie the game.

The Spurs captured their third straight win and pushed their NBA-best record to 54-12. They kicked off a tough three-game road trip that also includes treks to Miami and Dallas.

Kevin Martin scored 28 points to lead the Rockets, who began a season-long six-game road trip by falling to 7-3 in their last 10.
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Poor shot-selection and typically-bad defense doomed the Rockets down the stretch in this one. In a key possession with around a minute left in the game, Kevin Martin threw up a ridiculous, wild shot that never had a chance to go in. The Rockets played the Spurs tough, but just couldn’t get good shots or stops when it mattered most.

In terms of the playoff chase, both Memphis and Utah lost on Saturday night. The Rockets are 33-34, three full games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Houston hosts the Phoenix Suns on Monday night. The Suns are one game off the pace of the eighth playoff spot.

As Playoff Hopes Hang In The Balance, Rockets Host Spurs Tonight

(Sports Network) - A pair of Southwest Division rivals get together this evening in Space City, where the NBA-best San Antonio Spurs take on the homestanding Houston Rockets from the Toyota Center.

San Antonio has won the first two meetings with Houston this season and three straight matchups overall. These two rivals have split the previous 12 contests in Houston.

The division-leading and top-seeded Spurs closed out a four-game homestand with Friday's 108-103 victory over the Sacramento Kings, as Tony Parker scored 18 of his game-high 27 points in the second half and Manu Ginobili registered 24 points and seven assists for San Antonio, which went 3-1 on the residency and won for the seventh time in nine tries.

Tim Duncan compiled 15 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

"I thought our big three pulled it out for us; they dug down deep," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Tony carried us in the third quarter and then Manu and then Timmy. Those three guys were great tonight. We had to dig deep with them and they were the reason we won the game. I thought Sacramento did a great job."

San Antonio has won 11 in a row and 16 of the last 17 meetings with the Kings. It will begin a three-game road trip tonight against Houston, Miami and Dallas, and owns a 22-9 record away from the Alamo City.

Houston is three games off a playoff spot in the Western Conference and will commence a season-long six-game homestand Saturday versus the Spurs, Suns, Bobcats, Celtics, Jazz and Warriors. It is 17-13 in Space City in 2010-11.

The Rockets lost for the second time in nine tries with Tuesday's 113-100 defeat in Phoenix, as Hakim Warrick finished with a career-high 32 points to lead the Suns. Kyle Lowry paced the Rockets with 32 points, while Patrick Patterson added 18 points off the bench for Houston.

"It's a tough loss, a tough loss," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "We didn't guard them well in the second half and they made us pay."

Houston forward Luis Scola missed the Phoenix game with a sore left knee and is doubtful for tonight versus the Spurs. Scola is averaging 18.5 points and 8.1 rebounds this season. Kevin Martin had 17 points in the recent loss.

The Rockets dropped their seventh consecutive game to Phoenix, matching their longest losing streak in the history of this series. On a more positive note, the Rockets have scored 100 points or more in 13 of 14 contests.

San Antonio is 2-0 against Houston this season and unbeaten in the past three meetings between the teams. These two foes have split the previous 12 games at the Rockets.