It was a classic Texas showdown that had fans on the edge of their seats, and when the dust settled, the Houston Rockets emerged victorious, thanks in large part to a jaw-dropping, game-saving block by Amen Thompson. This wasn't just another early-season game; it was a gritty battle against the defending Western Conference champions, the San Antonio Spurs, and a testament to Houston's burgeoning potential.
Key Takeaways from the Austin Thriller
The Houston Rockets snatched a 114-110 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in a fierce Texas rivalry game.
Amen Thompson delivered a monumental, game-clinching block against Victor Wembanyama in the dying seconds.
Kevin Durant made a triumphant return to his college stomping grounds in Austin, showcasing his clutch scoring.
Alperen Sengun proved unstoppable in the fourth quarter, dropping 14 of his 29 points to seal the win.
Texas Showdown Delivers Instant Classic!
Hoops fans at the University of Texas in Austin were treated to an absolute barnburner as the Houston Rockets outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 114-110 at the Moody Center. This wasn't merely an exhibition; it was a high-stakes clash between two Western Conference powerhouses with serious championship aspirations.
The back-and-forth contest was a statistical marvel, featuring 14 lead changes and 11 ties. Despite the Rockets holding an 11-point lead early in the second quarter, the Spurs relentlessly clawed their way back, making it a nail-biting finish down to the wire. The final moments saw an electrifying alley-oop from De’Aaron Fox to Victor Wembanyama, a clutch 3-pointer by Kevin Durant, a thunderous dunk from Dylan Harper, and ultimately, a game-saving block by Amen Thompson.
With this gritty win, the Rockets improved their early-season record to 2-0, sending a clear message to the league. Meanwhile, the reigning Western Conference champion Spurs surprisingly fell to 0-2. Durant acknowledged the significance: "An early-season test is always good. We’re not going to bank on this, but we can look at this and get some film from it and see how we can get better. … Hopefully we can build off this."
The Block Heard 'Round the League: Amen Thompson's Masterclass
"Rejected by Thompson! Rejected by Thompson! Rockets win!" Those were the iconic words from Prime Video's Kevin Harlan, perfectly capturing the moment Amen Thompson solidified Houston's victory. In a breathtaking display of athleticism, Thompson soared to deny Wembanyama in the final seconds, sealing the 114-110 win.
Thompson, an All-Defensive First Team honoree in 2025, showcased exactly why he's lauded as one of the league's most elite defenders and athletes. "When Wemby caught the ball, I just thought he was gonna be tall man and try to rise over the top," Durant recounted. "But Twin is a freak athlete. It’s insane how he got up so quick to block that shot against a 7-5 guy being 6-7. Man, what a game-saving block."
His incredible reaction time, explosive leap to overcome Wembanyama's 10-inch height advantage, and full extension to meet the shot at its apex highlight a rare blend of skill and raw athleticism. Fred VanVleet echoed the sentiment, stating, "There’s not many people on the planet making that play on Wemby, which is why he is the special player that he is." This block set an incredibly high bar for the "block of the year" conversation, on only the fourth night of the 2026-27 season.
KD's Triumphant Return to Lone Star Roots
From Longhorn Legend to Rocket Hero
Two decades ago, Kevin Durant captivated Austin fans while donning the burnt orange jersey for the University of Texas. He averaged an astounding 25.8 points per game, leading the Longhorns to the NCAA Tournament before becoming the No. 2 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. While the arena has changed from the Frank Erwin Center to the state-of-the-art Moody Center, and his jersey number from 35 to 7, KD's smooth, undeniable game remains.
This marked Durant's second homecoming game in Austin. As a Phoenix Sun in 2024, he posted 22 points, five rebounds, and three 3-pointers in a loss to the Spurs. This time, he left with a win, improving his Austin record to 1-1.
Clutch Performance for the Austin Crowd
On Friday, Durant delivered a stellar performance with 20 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Crucially, he drilled a clutch 3-pointer with just 1:34 remaining, extending Houston’s lead to four after a Wembanyama alley-oop had cut it to one. "This is a dream come true, a blessing to be doing this every day," Durant reflected after the victory. "To come back to the University of Texas and play a game here and see all these fans that supported me the last 20 years, it’s amazing."
VanVleet's Veteran Leadership Shines After Injury Layoff
The opening week of the 2026-27 season has seen a parade of stars returning from devastating injuries, and Fred VanVleet is among them. Just 13 months removed from tearing his ACL in his right knee, VanVleet has wasted no time proving why the Rockets desperately missed him last season.
Through two games, his decision-making and leadership have been impeccable: an incredible 16 assists with 0 turnovers. While he admits he's still getting his legs back, averaging 10 points on 33.3% shooting, his presence is invaluable. Durant lauded him as "somebody that can stretch the floor all the way to the hashmark. Just a floor general, it’s good for the whole team, not just me." After a season spent on the sidelines as a "quasi-assistant coach," VanVleet is thrilled to be back on the court. "Your voice only goes so far," he quipped. "I definitely learned that I don’t want to be a coach last year. I was having migraines. I was going home more angry and hurt while not playing than I was from playing."
Sengun Outduels Wemby in Big Man Battle
After a challenging season-opener where he shot a career-low 1-for-13, Victor Wembanyama bounced back impressively on Friday. He recorded 25 points on 9-for-21 shooting (2-for-6 from 3), along with 13 rebounds and two blocks. However, it was his final shot attempt—and Thompson’s subsequent block—that will be the lasting memory for Spurs fans as their team dropped to 0-2.
Countering Wembanyama's efforts for the Rockets was Alperen Sengun, who delivered a monstrous performance, stuffing the stat sheet with 29 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in 36 minutes. It wasn't just the sheer volume of points, but when and how Sengun scored them that truly mattered. A staggering 14 of his 29 points came in the crucial fourth quarter, as the Rockets repeatedly fed him the ball to either score (4-for-6 shooting) or facilitate (two assists).
VanVleet explained the strategy: "[The Spurs] kept making a run and we just kept giving Alpi the ball. They weren’t sending much help – they were locked in on Kevin and they weren’t really helping much off me, so between Alpi and Amen, those guys gotta be able to take advantage if they’re getting single coverage. So just keep feeding the big fella and he took us home.” It was a masterclass in exploiting defensive matchups, and Sengun delivered spectacularly.