⏱️How it unfolded
The score against the pace we expected, quarter by quarter.
The score, against the pace we expected
The Rockets got 9 points ahead of the pace we expected in the first quarter and stayed there.
Where it moved
▲ HOU better than we expected
▼ SA better than we expected
The first quarter was where it moved most, 9 points better than our numbers for the Rockets.
⚖️What decided it
Why the Rockets won, and why the Spurs did not.
From the game
Lived at the line, 29 free throws to their eighteen- Owned the paint, 60 points inside to 42
A 13-0 run cut a 14-point deficit to 1 in the third quarter
Key battles
🏀Good plays, bad plays
The plays that went each side's way, and the ones each side did to itself.
Rockets
Good plays
- 9-0 run
A 9-0 run stretched a 5-point lead to 14
Q1 3:33 · HOU 35-21 SA
- 9-0 run
A 9-0 run stretched a 3-point lead to 12
Q3 7:05 · HOU 69-57 SA
Bad plays
- Technical
James Harden technical foul(1st technical foul)
Q2 1:21 · HOU 48-40 SA
- Missed FT
Dwight Howard misses free throw 1 of 2
Q4 4:33 · HOU 87-90 SA
- Missed FT
Terrence Jones misses free throw 2 of 2
Q4 1:24 · HOU 98-92 SA
Spurs
Good plays
- 13-0 run
A 13-0 run cut a 14-point deficit to 1
Q3 1:23 · HOU 76-75 SA
- 9-0 run
A 9-0 run took them from 4 down to 5 up
Q4 9:26 · HOU 80-85 SA
Bad plays
- Technical
Tim Duncan technical foul(1st technical foul)
Q1 7:20 · HOU 10-9 SA
📊The numbers
| HOU | SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 45% | Shooting from the field | 44% |
| 4 | Threes made | 4 |
| 18% | Three-point accuracy | 24% |
| 24 | Free throws made | 16 |
| 54 | Rebounds | 50 |
| 11 | Offensive rebounds | 8 |
| 18 | Assists | 24 |
| 60 | Points in the paint | 42 |
| 13 | Fast break points | 10 |
| 6 | Points off turnovers | 11 |
| 6 | Turnovers | 6 |
| 4 | Steals | 3 |
| 2 | Blocks | 2 |
