David Hardisty @clutchfans
What a game! The rookies, led by Jabari Smith Jr., showed out in the Rockets preseason debut. We’re talking live in post-game:
getplayback.com/room/rocketswa… – 9:31 PM
Tom Petrini @RealTomPetrini
Spurs lose the season opener 134-96 to the Rockets.
An ugly and disjointed blowout, but there were some bright spots from Poeltl, Vassell, Collins, Roby, and the rookies. – 9:28 PM
Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
Jabari Smith jr in his first NBA game with the Rockets
21 points / 8-15 FG / 5-8 3P / 8 rebounds / 2 assists in 24 minutes vs Spurs
Big this are on the way! #Rockets#NBAPreseason – 9:17 PM
Adam Spolane @AdamSpolane
Alperen Sengun did the “too small” thing from the bench after Boban’s put-back after an offensive rebound – 9:17 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Josh Christopher had a pretty rough start but has come on. Since a time out following a pair of ragged possessions, he has knocked down a pair of 3s and had a nice pass inside. – 9:08 PM
Tom Petrini @RealTomPetrini
Malaki Branham is 2-2 from deep after not playing the first half, the only Spur with multiple triples.
Rest of the team is 4-29 from three. – 8:59 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
In three quarters of preseason basketball against the Spurs kids, the Rockets have looked better than last season in almost every way, leading by as much as 34. Free throw shooting is not among them, making 10 of 50 free throws. – 8:58 PM
Paul Garcia @PaulGarciaNBA
Malaki Branham has only played in this quarter but he’s already the Spurs’ 3rd leading scorer
6 points from three
2 points from mid-range – 8:57 PM
Adam Spolane @AdamSpolane
Jeremy Sochan is wearing number 10 and he has his hair dyed multiple colors. It’s like Dennis Rodman returned to the Spurs 25 years later – 8:57 PM
Matthew Tynan @Matthew_Tynan
Two shots, two made field goals for Malaki Branham: a spot-up 3 and a mid-range pull-up — his two biggest strengths. – 8:54 PM
Adam Wexler @AdamJWexler #Rockets have seven players who are currently under the age of 21. Five of those seven were with the team last season (Green, Christopher, Nix, Sengun, Garuba). The new under 21’s are Smith & Washington. – 8:51 PM
Tom Petrini @RealTomPetrini
Branham hits a three, Wesley hits a floater. Perhaps the first time all game the Spurs have scored on consecutive possessions. – 8:51 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
TyTy Washington Jr. with his first playing time, checking in with 3:19 left in the third. He’s in with Sengun, Eason, Christopher and Martin in another 21-and-under lineup. – 8:48 PM
Jeff McDonald @JMcDonald_SAEN
Malaki Branham becomes the first Spurs rookie to score this preseason, swishing a top-of-the-arc 3-pointer with 4:05 left in the third. – 8:47 PM
Jeff McDonald @JMcDonald_SAEN
Zach Collins has five fouls in 14 minutes. After the last one, he looked at the scoreboard and mouthed, “How do I already have five?” – 8:44 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Derrick Favors on the Rockets bench tonight. Was not expected here tonight but he’s joined the festivities. – 8:40 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Jabari Smith Jr. up to 18 points on 5 of 7 3-point shooting. Has seven rebounds, too. As he said this morning houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-n… “It’s going to be fun.” – 8:37 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Alperen Sengun seemed to take a knee to his thigh, maybe knee. He left the game for some attention in the back. – 8:29 PM
Tom Petrini @RealTomPetrini
Tre Jones, Doug McDermott, Keita Bates-Diop, Jeremy Sochan, and Zach Collins to start the second half.
Pop is very clearly in the “just trying some stuff” stage, and why shouldn’t he be with this group? – 8:29 PM
Adam Spolane @AdamSpolane
Three things that stood out to me in the first half
•Jalen Green looks so much bigger
•Silas staggering Green and Kevin Porter Jr
•Josh Christopher was the 12th man to get in the game – 8:26 PM
Alykhan Bijani @Rockets_Insider
Help-side defense occupied by KPJ and Jalen weak-side movement. Using a shooter (EG) coming off a baseline pin down, to free the screener (Jabari) for a slip. A lot of movement. Sengun looking good as a hub when initial transition look not there. #Rockets pic.twitter.com/558LAahSkI – 8:25 PM
Tom Petrini @RealTomPetrini
Spurs trail the Rockets 62-37 at halftime.
Jak has 9 points, 10 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Devin has shot poorly but has a team-high 13 points.
Not the sharpest half of Spurs basketball I’ve ever seen, that’s for sure. – 8:15 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Rockets lead the Spurs, 62-37, at half of the first preseason game after Nix sinks a 3 from 47 feet. Rockets with 16 assists Averaged 23.6 last season so they are on pace for more. Smith with 15 points. – 8:12 PM
Jeff McDonald @JMcDonald_SAEN
Spurs trail Rockets 62-39 at half. Daishin Nix’s 47-footer at the halftime horn is the difference. – 8:12 PM
Adam Spolane @AdamSpolane
Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr did not share the floor in the first half after the 5:59 mark of the first quarter – 8:10 PM
Kelly Iko @KellyIko
Jabari Smith looks much more comfortable on the floor than he did early in Vegas — finding his spots within the flow of the offense and remaining aggressive. Leads all scorers with 15 points. – 8:09 PM
Tom Petrini @RealTomPetrini
This Spurs roster is gonna be pretty limited, but I’m sure Pop wants to see a lot more togetherness from his guys.
Zero cohesion right now. – 8:08 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Pretty dish from Jalen Green to Alperen Sengun in pick-and-roll. Made a move and no-looked his past through traffic off the dribble, his third assist. Just had a nice one to Smith, too. Jabari Smith Jr. with 13 late in the first half. He’s 3 of 4 on 3s. – 8:07 PM
Kelly Iko @KellyIko
Rockets giving Green minutes on the floor without Gordon + Porter and he’s responded with some good decision-making. His 3rd assist to Sengun stretches Houston’s lead to 20 with 2:47 to go in the half. – 8:06 PM
Adam Spolane @AdamSpolane
You couldn’t really tell on Media Day, but on the floor Jalen Green looks a lot bigger – 8:05 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Tony Brothers walks Jabari Smith Jr. almost the entire way back to the Rockets bench during the time out chatting with the young man with an arm around him. Some Brothersly advice? – 8:00 PM
Tom Petrini @RealTomPetrini
Devin Vassell just hit his first three in six tries. He’s gonna have a pretty green light all year. – 7:58 PM
Paul Garcia @PaulGarciaNBA
11 first half points for Devin Vassell
6 paint points
3 points from outside
2 points from FT line
Rockets by 15 – 7:57 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Rockets with a 21-and-under lineup — Martin, Nix, Sengun, Smith and Christopher — on the floor. But with 10 players 21 years old and younger, that is probably not going to be unusual. – 7:55 PM
Tom Petrini @RealTomPetrini
Tre Jones finds Devin Vassell with a full-court heave
Some little flashes here and there, but the 39-21 score is a pretty good measure of how much the Spurs are struggling. – 7:50 PM
Jeff McDonald @JMcDonald_SAEN
Jeremy Sochan will make his Spurs debut to start the second quarter. Did not play at Summer League due to COVID. – 7:42 PM
Kelly Iko @KellyIko
Rockets defense holding San Antonio to just 27 percent shooting in the first quarter, lead 30-17. Also winning the rebounding battle 17-11. Solid start for the young guys. – 7:40 PM
Tom Petrini @RealTomPetrini
Spurs down 30-17 after the first quarter.
Curious why we haven’t seen any Sochan yet, no Branham either – 7:40 PM
Adam Spolane @AdamSpolane
The first quarter of the first preseason game is over. Rockets are up 13, start planning the parade. Remember, it gets hot in June so dress appropriately – 7:40 PM
Adam Spolane @AdamSpolane
Garrison Mathews is slow to get up after taking a viscous screen from Zach Collins. Took less than 2 minutes for him to draw his first offensive foul – 7:33 PM
Tom Petrini @RealTomPetrini
This definitely looks like a preseason game between two teams that will be in the Wembanyama sweepstakes.
Spurs and Rockets have combined to shoot 1-11 from deep so far, plenty of air balls and sloppy play all around. pic.twitter.com/K4wSCDALaw – 7:30 PM
Kelly Iko @KellyIko
Bruno Fernando putting that freshly minted contract money to work early. Solid rim protection in this first quarter. – 7:30 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Tari Eason and Garrison Mathews check in. Check out Mathews’ retooled shot. houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-n… A result of a summer filled with 6 a.m. workouts with John Lucas. – 7:29 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Bruno Fernando, K.J. Martin and Daishen Nix check in. They are also a list of players that have stood out in the first week of practices. Early minutes a recognition of that. – 7:23 PM
Tom Petrini @RealTomPetrini
Okay so if you go to nba.com/rockets and simply scroll down the Spurs game is streaming there. – 7:21 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Rockets have not put in their post offense or elbow offense for Sengun but he is getting plenty of touches early and looking good. He’s 2 for 2 with 2 rebounds, 2 assists and a double to left. – 7:21 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Rockets up 15-10 at the first break of a pretty sharp start for preseason. This might be a conference finals preview. (You can insert the year.) – 7:20 PM
Kelly Iko @KellyIko
Silas mentioned doing some things differently moving to a 4-out, 1-in offense and Sengun has been involved a ton here early on, functioning as both a screener, passer and low-post presence. – 7:18 PM
Matthew Tynan @Matthew_Tynan
The good news for Spurs fans trying to watch the game is @Jeff McDonald has volunteered to give up-to-the-second Twitter PBP.
The bad news is also that, though. – 7:11 PM
Adam Spolane @AdamSpolane
John Lucas, Lionel Hollins and Mike Batiste are the Rockets bench assistants. Rick Higgins, Mahmoud Abdelfattah, and Will Dunn are behind the bench – 7:10 PM
Jeff McDonald @JMcDonald_SAEN
Keldon Johnson and Josh Primo are here, but not in uniform (injuries).
Gorgui Dieng, who has been limited in camp so far, is dressed out. – 7:09 PM
Tom Petrini @RealTomPetrini
So is anybody able to see this game on League Pass? Or in the Spurs app? Or listen on WOAI?
Because, uh, I am having some issues. – 7:08 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Rockets notes: Bruno Fernando gets four-year contract houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-n… via @houstonchron – 6:56 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Rockets starters: Alperen Sengun, Eric Gordon, Jabari Smith Jr., Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr.
Spurs starters: Keita Bates-Diop, Josh Richardson, Jakob Poeltl, Devin Vassell, Tre Jones. – 6:32 PM
Jeff McDonald @JMcDonald_SAEN
Spurs starters tonight in Houston will include Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Josh Richardson and Jakob Poeltl.
“I’ve got to think of one more,” Pop says, noting league rules require five. – 6:26 PM
Jon Johnson @jonjohnsonwip
With three games remaining(@ HOU), the Phillies magic number to return to postseason is 1. – 6:25 PM
Austin Krell @NBAKrell
Brewers lose. Phillies’ magic number down to 1.
1 victory in Houston or 1 MIL loss vs the D-Backs sends the Phils to the playoffs for the first time since 2011. – 6:24 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Fun cap process for Bruno Fernando and Houston. Was on a camp deal. That can’t be reworked without waiving. So, Rockets convert to a Two-Way, then sign the new deal from the Two-Way. This keeps Fernando from being exposed to waivers, where he could have been claimed. Good work. – 6:01 PM
JD Shaw @JShawNBA
Rockets Signing Bruno Fernando To Four-Year Deal hoopsrumors.com/2022/10/rocket… – 5:59 PM
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
Houston Rockets center Bruno Fernando has agreed on a four-year, $10.9 million deal, his agents Andy Shiffman and Mark Bartelstein of @Priority Sports tell ESPN. Fernando will have his two-way contract coverted to this new long-term deal. – 5:40 PM
David Hardisty @clutchfans
Says @Dave McMenamin: “I’m of the opinion that (the Lakers) already should’ve made a (Russ) move. They could’ve traded one first-round pick last year at the deadline (to HOU) and they would’ve had John Wall on their team and the Clippers wouldn’t be as good as they’re looking this year.” – 4:07 PM
Ralph Lawler @Ohmeomy
Beth Mowins and James Loftin are doing an excellent job on the Charger-Houston game on CBS today. – 3:53 PM
Matthew Tynan @Matthew_Tynan
Rockets are 4-point favorites against the Spurs tonight. Who among you is enough of a degenerate to bet this game?
/looks directly at @bouncepassos – 3:42 PM
Adam Spolane @AdamSpolane
The Texans getting outscored by the Astros today while allowing more points than the Rockets tonight is currently in play – 1:59 PM
Adam Wexler @AdamJWexler #Texans down 2 TDs now after the Ekeler TD run. it’s 14-0 Chargers. LAC: 89yds, 15 plays (5.9 yds/play)
Hou: 39yds, 15 plays (2.6 yds/play) – 1:45 PM