Devin Vassell scored 26 points (7 during a 12-0 run across the third and fourth quarters), and the San Antonio Spurs closed the third quarter on a 24-8 run to beat the Houston Rockets 124-105.
It was tied at 68 when Romeo Langford’s 34-foot 3-pointer put the Spurs ahead for good with 6:53 left in the third quarter. They pulled away to a 92-76 lead after three quarters and led by as many as 26 in the fourth quarter.
Malaki Branham scored 12 of his 14 points (12 in the fourth quarter) in the fourth quarter. The Spurs had 7 players in double-digit scoring.
For the Rockets, Alperen Sengun scored 22 points on 8 for 10 shooting.
The Spurs shot 55.4% from the field and 50.0% from 3 to the Rockets’ 42.6% and 20.8%. They outscored the Rockets 26-6 on the fast break. The Rockets’ starters were outscored 40-26 in 14 minutes together.