October 22, 2026 at 6:19 AM UTC

Pregame Analysis

Spurs Look to Rebound at Home as Rockets Bring Veteran Firepower

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San Antonio returns home needing a cleaner night from Victor Wembanyama against a Houston team with real star power.

San Antonio opens its home slate with something to prove after a 116-104 season-opening loss to Oklahoma City. The biggest storyline from that game was Victor Wembanyama's career-worst 1-for-13 shooting night. Oklahoma City's help defense crowded him, and he blamed overthinking and said he wants to play more freely. Even in a bad shooting game, he finished with 12 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks. That kind of defensive impact is hard for any opponent to ignore, and a more relaxed offensive night would change the Spurs' ceiling quickly.

Houston arrives as a talented but inconsistent group. The Rockets are built around Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün, and after a 52-30 season that put them fifth in the West, they expect to contend. Fred VanVleet's return from a torn ACL, which cost him all of last season, gives them a primary floor general again. If he is on the floor, Houston's offense has more structure. If he sits, Marcus Smart is set to start at point guard ahead of Reed Sheppard. The Rockets also have a frontcourt question: Steven Adams was questionable with right calf tightness for their opener. That was the earlier game, so his current status is worth checking before tip.

The matchup comes down to whether San Antonio can turn Wembanyama's rim protection into stops and a better rhythm for him on offense. Houston's Durant-Şengün pairing will create problems, especially if the center rotation is thin. But the Spurs have the home court and a clear motivation to bounce back after a rough opener. Wembanyama is more likely to look comfortable against a different defensive scheme.

I expect a competitive game, with San Antonio finding enough late-game stability to hold off Houston's shot-making.

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