Spurs rout Rockets 124-105 with 26 from Vassell

Published Dec. 19, 2022 10:33 p.m. ET

Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) — Devin Vassell had 26 points and the San Antonio Spurs rolled to a 124-105 rout of the Houston Rockets on Monday night to snap a two-game skid.

The Spurs won this matchup of the two worst teams in the Western Conference despite missing leading scorer Keldon Johnson, who averages more than 21 points a game. Johnson was out with a bruised lower back.

San Antonio used a big third quarter to pull away and led by 16 entering the fourth before scoring the first five points of the final period to push the lead to 97-76.

The Spurs led by 20 later in the fourth before using an 8-2 run to make it 120-94 with about four minutes to go. Vassell and Malaki Branham both made a 3 in that stretch, and Vassell grabbed a steal on a bad pass by Jalen Green.

Alperen Sengun had 22 points and Kevin Porter Jr. added 15 for the Rockets, who dropped their third straight game.

The Spurs led by 1 midway through the third quarter before using an 11-2 run to make it 82-72 about three minutes later. Keita Bates-Diop scored the first four points in that stretch and Doug McDermott had a 3-pointer to help the Spurs build the lead.

Porter made a 3-pointer for Houston after that before San Antonio closed out the quarter with a 10-1 spurt to extend the advantage to 92-76 entering the fourth. Jeremy Sochan got it going with a 3 and Vassell scored the final five points of the run, capped by a 3-pointer.

Monday’s win comes after the Spurs took the first meeting this season 118-109 over Houston.

TIP-INS

Spurs: Josh Richardson was out for a second straight game for personal reasons. … The Spurs made 50 percent of their 3-pointers. ... McDermott made four 3s and scored 16 off the bench. ... Tre Jones had 13 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

Rockets: Daishen Nix had a career-high nine assists. … Rookie Tari Eason scored 11. ... Green had 13. ... Rookie Jabari Smith Jr. had nine points and eight rebounds.

UP NEXT

Spurs: Visit New Orleans on Thursday night.

Rockets: Host Orlando on Wednesday night as they continue a seven-game homestand.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports