Looking to build off a turnaround that saw them finish last season with a 52-30 record and a 2nd place finish in the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets went all-in this summer by acquiring Kevin Durant
from the Phoenix Suns. Adding the 4-time scoring champ has shown early promise, as a Houston team that was middle of the pack offensively last season currently holds the pole position. This is even without the assistance of veteran guard Fred VanVleet, who tore his ACL before the season even had a chance to get started. Even without him though, adding Durant to the core of young players that includes Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Turkish big man Alperen Sengun is shaping up to be the home run move the Rockets envisioned when they acquired Durant. They’re coming into tonight’s game on a 5 game win streak.
San Antonio meanwhile returns home to the Frost Bank Center after a quick, yet disappointing trip out west that saw them pick up their first two losses of the season. If anything, it was a reminder that this team still has some growing pains to go through in their quest for NBA relevancy. Coming off of that trip and heading right into a match-up with an interstate rival and one of the NBA’s hottest teams is a daunting challenge, but one that the Spurs have to get up for as the start of this season unfolds. If they are who pundits think they’re becoming, they’ll be ready to bring the fight.
San Antonio Spurs (5-2) vs Houston Rockets (5-2)
November 6th 2025 | 6:30 PM CT
Watch: Amazon Prime | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Injuries: De’Aaron Fox, hamstring (OUT), Dylan Harper, calf (OUT) Luke Kornet, ankle (OUT)
Rockets Injuries: Dorian Finney-Smith, ankle (OUT), Steven Adams, hip (day to day), Fred VanVleet, (OUT)
What to watch for
- Kevin Durant has dealt with more than a few major injuries the last few seasons as he enters his golden years as a professional basketball player, but the 18 year veteran is still just as good as anyone at putting the ball in the hoop. He’s leading Houston in scoring and shot attempts, but he’s playing an all-around game that compliments the other established players on the Rockets, deferring to guys like Thompson and Sengun and he remains a competent defender. Houston was beaten in the first round in 7 games last spring by the Golden State Warriors in large part because their half court offense stalled out more often than not. Adding one of the greatest shooters and scorers ever, even at this point in his career, has paid immediate dividends for Houston.
- After a blazing start in San Antonio’s first 5 games, Victor Wembanyama seems to have fallen somewhat back to earth these last two games. He’s struggled with his shot the last games, has found himself in foul trouble, and is turning the ball over much too frequently. San Antonio has the makings of a very good team being built around him, but the Spurs need Vic to at least be solid on the offensive end more often than not if they want to win a lot of games this year. It’s going to be very difficult for them to secure Ws against the best teams with him scoring 9 points like he did against Phoenix two games ago and racking up turnovers (11 total in his last two games). Things don’t get much easier tonight with a match-up against Sengun on deck, a do-it-all big man in the Nikola Jokic mold.
- Already one of the league’s premier defenders, the athletic wunderkind Amen Thompson is looking to take the next step offensively. With VanVleet out for the season, Thompson has stepped up as a playmaker on the wing, 2nd on the team in assists per game to only Sengun. His athleticism jumps out when watching him, turning what would be lay-up attempts for other players into thunderous jams. Jump shooting and free throw shooting remain areas of improvement, but Thompson is just 22 years old. He’s coming off of a 28/10/7 performance in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies on the road.
- Jeremy Sochan looked great physically in his season debut in the loss to the Lakers, and he looked solid on offense as well with a very efficient 16 points on 6/7 shooting from the field. Unfortunately, he fouled out in just 22 minutes of play! Having to guard Luka Doncic in your first game of the season certainly presents a unique challenge, but following it up with Kevin Durant in Game 2? Say a prayer for Jeremy.
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