Murray, Poeltl power Spurs to easy 134-104 win over Rockets

Updated Jan. 25, 2022 10:22 p.m. ET

Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) — Dejounte Murray and Jakob Poeltl combined for 37 points in three quarters to help the San Antonio Spurs coast to a 134-104 victory over the Houston Rockets Tuesday night.

Murray had 19 points and 10 assists and Poeltl had 18 points with nine rebounds by the end of the third quarter, and neither played after that with the Spurs up by 31.

Houston led early in the first quarter, but the Spurs soon took over and were up by 15 at halftime. A 39-point third quarter put the game out of reach on a night San Antonio scored a season-high 82 points in the paint and shot a season-best 57.4 percent.

Kevin Porter Jr. had 16 points and nine assists for the Rockets, who lost their second game overall and ninth in a row at home. Christian Wood scored 15 points with seven rebounds for Houston.

Keldon Johnson added 16 points for San Antonio and Doug McDermott had 15.

San Antonio was up by 15 with about 8 ½ minutes left in the third quarter before using an 8-0 run with all the points in the lane, to extend it to 83-60 two minutes later. Houston had two turnovers in that stretch to help the Spurs pad the lead.

Jae’Sean Tate made Houston’s first points in almost 2 ½ minutes on a layup after that, but the Spurs used a 10-3 spurt to make it 93-65 with four minutes left in the third. Murray and Drew Eubanks had four points each to power that run.

The Spurs led 105-74 entering the fourth quarter.

TIP-INS

Spurs: Keita Bates-Diop missed the game due to health and safety protocols. ... Eubanks had 13 points and nine rebounds off the bench. ... San Antonio was 6 for 6 on free throws.

Rockets: Houston made just 9 of 34 3-point attempts. ... Alperen Sengun, who had 14 points, received a technical foul in the second quarter. ... Usman Garuba sat out with an injured left wrist. ... Kenyon Martin Jr. had 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench.

UP NEXT

Spurs: Host Memphis Wednesday night.

Rockets: Host Portland Friday night.

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