⏱️How it unfolded
The score against the pace we expected, quarter by quarter.
The score, against the pace we expected
The Spurs got 14 points ahead of the pace we expected in the third quarter and stayed there.
Where it moved
▲ SA better than we expected
▼ HOU better than we expected
The third quarter was where it moved most, 16 points better than our numbers for the Spurs.
⚖️What decided it
Why the Spurs won, and why the Rockets did not.
From the game
Looked after the ball, thirteen turnovers to their nineteen, and were outscored 30-18 off them
Owned the paint, 68 points inside to 48
A 12-0 run stretched a 7-point lead to 19 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.

Spurs
Good plays
- 9-0 run
A 9-0 run took them from 1 down to 8 up
Q1 6:16 · SA 24-16 HOU
- 12-0 run
A 12-0 run stretched a 7-point lead to 19
Q3 8:46 · SA 79-60 HOU
- 8-0 run
A 8-0 run stretched a 16-point lead to 24
Q4 9:05 · SA 113-89 HOU
Bad plays
Nothing costly of their own making.

Rockets
Good plays
No play that swung it their way.
Bad plays
Nothing costly of their own making.
📊The numbers
| SA | HOU | |
|---|---|---|
| 57% | Shooting from the field | 43% |
| 13 | Threes made | 11 |
| 46% | Three-point accuracy | 33% |
| 16 | Free throws made | 23 |
| 44 | Rebounds | 35 |
| 11 | Offensive rebounds | 9 |
| 33 | Assists | 15 |
| 68 | Points in the paint | 48 |
| 24 | Fast break points | 17 |
| 18 | Points off turnovers | 30 |
| 13 | Turnovers | 19 |
| 14 | Steals | 9 |
| 5 | Blocks | 6 |






