San Antonio edged out the shorthanded Rockets, surviving a late charge that saw Houston overcome a 13 point second-half deficit to claim their first lead of the night with just over three minutes remaining in regulation. Despite stumbling at the outset of the fourth quarter, the Spurs executed when it mattered most as DeMar DeRozan stepped up, and the defense hunkered down to pull out the dub.
The Silver and Black improved to 13-10, climbing three games above .500 and back into fifth place in the unforgiving Western Conference for the second time this season. And though it wasn’t the most aesthetically-pleasing outing, the good guys put their depth, defense, and never-say-die attitude on full display as two significant starters, Lonnie Walker IV and LaMarcus Aldridge, didn’t play.