Key Takeaways:
- Alperen Sengun produced 20 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists in Houston’s 111-106 win against San Antonio on Tuesday night
- Reed Sheppard delivered 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, sparking the Rockets to erase a 16-point deficit
- Julian Champagnie led the Spurs with 27 points, including eight 3-pointers, while Victor Wembanyama recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds
Match Analysis
Alperen Sengun narrowly missed out on a triple-double as his all-round performance propelled the Houston Rockets to a 111-106 comeback triumph over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night. Backed by Reed Sheppard’s late-game heroics and Kevin Durant’s 18-point contribution, Houston extended their winning streak to three games. Notably, tipoff was postponed by 22 minutes after damage to the rim during warmups forced a replacement.
NEVER. BACK. DOWN. 🗣️#AllFire pic.twitter.com/5vmMqpTEgl
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 21, 2026
Fourth-Quarter Turnaround
Houston, having trailed by as many as 16 points and still facing a 10-point deficit entering the fourth quarter, mounted a significant comeback. The Rockets exploded out of the gates in the final period with a nine-point burst, capped by a Sheppard three-pointer, trimming the margin to 92-91 with approximately nine and a half minutes remaining. San Antonio’s Dylan Harper ended the scoring drought for the visitors about two minutes later.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Sheppard continued his standout display, notching all of Houston’s points in an 8-2 run that gave the Rockets a narrow 101-100 advantage with four minutes left. With the scores level around the two-minute mark, Sheppard made a key defensive play by blocking a Julian Champagnie three-point attempt. Shortly after, Jabari Smith Jr. converted a fadeaway to edge Houston ahead 106-104.
Sengun further asserted his influence with a crucial basket inside the final 30 seconds, stretching the lead to 108-104. Following a failed long-range attempt from Stephon Castle for San Antonio, Sheppard calmly sank two free throws to secure the win.
Player Performances and Statistics
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alperen Sengun | Rockets | 20 | 13 | 9 |
| Reed Sheppard | Rockets | 21 | 2 | 4 |
| Kevin Durant | Rockets | 18 | 4 | 7 |
| Julian Champagnie | Spurs | 27 | 8 | 2 |
| Victor Wembanyama | Spurs | 14 | 10 | 2 |
Notable Records and Upcoming Fixtures
Julian Champagnie’s eight three-pointers bolstered a 27-point haul for the Spurs, immediately following a record-setting performance with 11 threes against the Knicks on 31 December. Victor Wembanyama registered a double-double, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Looking ahead, San Antonio will travel to face Utah on Thursday night, while Houston are slated for an away fixture against Philadelphia on the same evening.
