Rockets end Spurs’ 7-game streak with 88-84 win

The key is keeping it up.

San Antonio must recover from its worst offensive performance of the season Friday when the Spurs were edged by Houston 88-84 to end a seven-game win streak.

Unfortunately, the same can not be said for the Rockets as they are barely treading water in the West. We didn’t get some calls and I think we can get into more of attack mode. “We’ve got to find that energy, that consistent defensive togetherness every single night”.

Leonard had 20 points to lead San Antonio.

“He’s been giving us jolts for a while now”, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. The Pelicans had won two straight and three of four games before dropping a 94-88 decision in overtime at Miami on Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Spurs have quietly and methodically bolted out to a 26-6 start after their 101-86 win Saturday over the Nuggets at the AT&T Center.

SAN ANTONIO, TX – DECEMBER 26: Danny Green #14 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball against the … The Spurs still managed to execute their way towards points, but they did not have any of those unbelievable plays which make you philosophize about the beauty of team basketball blah blah blah.

This season has been a disappointment so far for the Rockets, who went to the Western Conference finals for the first time in 18 years under Kevin McHale before he was sacked November 18 in the wake of a puzzling 4-7 start.

This time last season the these two teams were complete opposite.

Boban Marjanovic blocked four shots in just 15 minutes in Saturday’s win over the Nuggets, adding 10 points and seven boards. Leonard highlighted that run with a running two-handed dunk.

San Antonio, substituting liberally, ran its lead to as much as 21 points with 3:50 to play in the third quarter as Leonard, Parker and Aldridge were already in double figures. Pat Beverley got that spurt going with a three-pointer and Harden made the next six points in that span. The Spurs’ 104-103 win April 14 was only their second in Houston in four years. Holiday had nine points in regulation. They were able to hold the Spurs to only 40.9 percent shooting and 84 points overall. The Rockets were sitting at 20-7 and the Spurs, 18-11. Duncan had 12 points and 11 rebounds….

Parker misfired on a 15-foot jumper just 1:17 into the game, and then missed from 19 feet out before failing to convert what appeared to be a makeable layup on a drive to the basket.

Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) knocks the ball out of the hands… DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points and Terrence Ross had 21, leading the Toronto Raptors to a 111-90 road win over the Milwaukee Bucks…. “He’s looking good and he played great tonight”.

Harden also mocked him a bit before raving about his play.

Prediction: If the Spurs don’t let Harden and Howard get into a rhythm early in the game, they’re not going to lose.

Harden made two huge shots in the fourth quarter to carry Houston to a huge win.