Spurs score season-low points in losing 88-84 to Rockets
Sports // Spurs
Leonard, Duncan can't rally Spurs in second half
Tom Orsborn, Staff writer
1of18San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20) is fouled by Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) as center Dwight Howard (12) blocks his shot attempt in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 25, 2015, in Houston. (AP Photo/Bob Levey)Bob Levey/Associated PressShow MoreShow Less
2of18Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley (2) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, rear, and center Tim Duncan (21) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 25, 2015, in Houston. (AP Photo/Bob Levey)Bob Levey/Associated PressShow MoreShow Less
4of183715 x 3092~~$~~Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) dribbles between San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan, left, and San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 25, 2015, in Houston.Bob Levey/APShow MoreShow Less
5of18Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) dunks as San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) looks on in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 25, 2015, in Houston. (AP Photo/Bob Levey)Bob Levey/Associated PressShow MoreShow Less
6of18Houston Rockets guard Corey Brewer (33) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs center Boris Diaw (33) as guard Manu Ginobili (20) watches in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 25, 2015, in Houston. (AP Photo/Bob Levey)Bob Levey/Associated PressShow MoreShow Less
7of18San Antonio Spurs forward David West (30) drives to the basket past Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) and guard Corey Brewer (33) as guard Patty Mills (8) and guard Jonathon Simmons (17) look on in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 25, 2015, in Houston. (AP Photo/Bob Levey)Bob Levey/Associated PressShow MoreShow Less
8of18HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 25: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets drives with the basketball against Danny Green #14 of the San Antonio Spurs during their game at the Toyota Center on December 25, 2015 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.Scott Halleran/Getty ImagesShow MoreShow Less
9of18HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 25: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets sits on the court during their game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Toyota Center on December 25, 2015 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.Scott Halleran/Getty ImagesShow MoreShow Less
10of18HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 25: Tony Parker #9 of the San Antonio Spurs and Jason Terry #31 of the Houston Rockets battle for the basketball during their game at the Toyota Center on December 25, 2015 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.Scott Halleran/Getty ImagesShow MoreShow Less
11of18HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 25: Dwight Howard #12 of the Houston Rockets shoots over Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs during their game at the Toyota Center on December 25, 2015 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.Scott Halleran/Getty ImagesShow MoreShow Less
12of18HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 25: Jason Terry #31 of the Houston Rockets and Manu Ginobili #20 of the San Antonio Spurs battle for the basketball during their game at the Toyota Center on December 25, 2015 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.Scott Halleran/Getty ImagesShow MoreShow Less
13of18HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 25: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets goes up for a shot under Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs during their game at the Toyota Center on December 25, 2015 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.Scott Halleran/Getty ImagesShow MoreShow Less
14of18HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 25: Interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff reacts to a play on the court during their game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Toyota Center on December 25, 2015 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.Scott Halleran/Getty ImagesShow MoreShow Less
15of18HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 25: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets goes up for a shot during their game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Toyota Center on December 25, 2015 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.Scott Halleran/Getty ImagesShow MoreShow Less
16of18HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 25: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets agrues a call with NBA official Gary Zielinski during their game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Toyota Center on December 25, 2015 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.Scott Halleran/Getty ImagesShow MoreShow Less
17of18HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 25: Members of the Houston Rockets huddle on the court during their game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Toyota Center on December 25, 2015 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.Scott Halleran/Getty ImagesShow MoreShow Less
18of18HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 25: Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs chats with Tony Parker #9 during their game against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center on December 25, 2015 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.Scott Halleran/Getty ImagesShow MoreShow Less
HOUSTON — Tough, aggressive defense is what one would expect in any game involving the Spurs.
And there was plenty of it Friday night. Only this time their opponent did it better.
Unable to adjust to the Houston Rockets' hard-nosed play, the Spurs dropped an 88-84 Christmas Day decision at the Toyota Center that snapped their season-best seven-game winning streak.
"They were very physical and very aggressive defensively," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of the Rockets. "I don't think we adjusted to that very well. If that's the way the game is going to be called, you have to roll with it. Whatever the (officiating) crew seems to be emphasizing or not emphasizing or whatever, that's our responsibility to adjust, and I thought their pressure hurt us tonight in a lot of situations."
In falling to 25-6, the Spurs recorded season lows for points and free-throws attempted (eight). The Rockets, meanwhile, improved to 16-15 by following coach J.B. Bickerstaff's game plan, which he said before the game centered on physical, tenacious defense.
"We've got to hit people," Bickerstaff said.
The Rockets reached their physical peak in the third quarter when guard Patrick Beverley nailed Spurs guard Tony Parker in the face while playing nose-to-nose defense.
"That's what they always try to do with us," Spurs center Tim Duncan said. "They always try to be physical. They take it over the top sometimes, but such is basketball. They got us on our heels."
Spurs guard Manu Ginobili agreed.
"They denied and pressured the ball and we couldn't get anything easy," Ginobili said. "Our trademark ball movement was not there because they were jumping on passing lanes. When that happens, you've got to attack the rim more. We held it and tried to post the ball, holding it, instead of moving it from one side to another. We helped them out."
Kawhi Leonard (20 points, seven rebounds, five steals, three blocks) and LaMarcus Aldridge (18 points, nine rebounds) didn't disappoint in the nationally televised game, but the same couldn't be said of some of the Spurs' other starters.
The Spurs, who had won three straight against the Rockets, fell to 4-6 in Christmas Day games, including losses in their last three holiday contests. Two days before this one, Parker said he would rather be home with his family and his son than play on Christmas.
On Friday, he played like it, scoring a season-low two points on 1-of-7 shooting. Duncan finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds, but he had only three points and four rebounds after three quarters. Danny Green also suffered through a tough outing, missing 4 of 6 shots en route to scoring five points.
"I hate playing on Christmas, but that's just me," Duncan said. "I don't know if that has anything to do with it. But it is what it is. We made too many mistakes down the stretch, too many turnovers. Personally, I think I made three down the last five or six minutes, so those mistakes bit us. And I thought that was the game."
James Harden recovered from a poor start shooting-wise to finish with 20 points on 7 of 21, but he talked more about the team's defensive effort afterward.
"We were consistent with our defensive effort every possession," Harden said. "They're a really good team that moves the ball extremely well. They've got a lot of guys who can make baskets, so we had to lock in and, for the most part, we did a really good job with that. We pressured passes and contested shots, and we did it consistently."
An 8-2 run by Houston gave it a 78-71 lead without about five minutes to go. The Spurs fought back, but Harden energized the crowd with an off-balance, 3-pointer from the corner over Duncan that gave the Rockets an 84-75 lead.
Popovich tried intentionally fouling Dwight Howard, but it didn't make a difference.
"Who knows? It's the old argument," Popovich said. "Harden didn't have the ball and they didn't hit their free throws but maybe it hurt momentum for us. Who really knows? I go back and forth on it, but I'd do it again."
In the end, it boiled down to the Spurs failing to adjust to Houston's fierce defense and them making too many mistakes and missed shots at the end.
"A couple of us struggled, but the bottom line was we were in the position to win the game if we make the right plays, and we didn't make them," Duncan said. "We move onto the next one."
torsborn@express-news.net
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Tom Orsborn
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After three years as a part-time employee covering mainly high school sports, Tom Orsborn became a full-time employee at the Express-News in October 1985. He's covered the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL since 1999 and has also covered the Spurs, the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, and a variety of other events, including 14 Super Bowls.