The Houston Rockets’ red-hot five-game winning streak came to a crashing halt in San Antonio, and the reason was no secret. In a 121-110 loss that opened Emirates NBA Cup play, the Rockets’ most persistent flaw—a turnover epidemic—was ruthlessly exposed by a physical Spurs team. Despite boasting the league’s best offense and rebounding, Houston’s inability to take care of the ball proved to be their undoing, raising urgent questions about their sustainability without a true floor general.
Nov 7, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) passes during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images
1. A Formula for Failure: Turnovers + Offensive Rebounds
The box score tells a damning story. The Rockets committed a staggering 23 turnovers, which the Spurs converted into 33 points. Compounding the problem, Houston, the NBA’s best rebounding team, was bullied on the glass, surrendering 15 offensive rebounds that often led to wide-open three-pointers.
“They were the tougher team,” head coach Ime Udoka admitted. “They kind of punked us out there and out-hustled us.” This “punking” was most evident in a game-changing 36-12 run by the Spurs from late in the second quarter into the third, a stretch where Houston’s offense completely collapsed under pressure.
2. Stars Shoulder the Blame, But Systemic Issue Remains
The Spurs’ strategy was clear: swarm the stars. The tactic worked to perfection, as Kevin Durant committed a game-high 8 turnovers.
“I had eight of them,” Durant shouldered the responsibility. “It’s contagious. I’ve got to be better… Teams are trying to swarm and take the ball out of me and Alpi’s hands.” While Durant (24 points) and Alperen Şengün (25 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists) still put up numbers, the constant double-teams disrupted the offensive flow at its source.
3. A Glimmer of Hope and a Glaring Roster Hole
Amid the struggles, rookie Reed Sheppard provided a spark off the bench with 16 points and 6 assists, finishing as a team-best +8. His performance highlights the potential of the supporting cast but also underscores the core problem: the lack of a primary ball-handler.
The injury to Fred VanVleet has left a gaping hole. Last season, his presence engineered a “180-degree turn” in the team’s carelessness with the ball. Without him, the Rockets have regressed to averaging 16.5 turnovers per game (27th in NBA), a fatal flaw against elite competition.
The loss to the Spurs is a reality check for the Rockets. They have the star power in Durant and Şengün and the supporting pieces to be explosive, but their championship aspirations will remain out of reach until they solve the turnover crisis. With limited trade options until December, the solution must come from within: better decision-making, stronger passes, and a collective commitment to valuing each possession. The road doesn’t get easier, with a matchup against Milwaukee next. How they respond will reveal this team’s true character.