Just two nights removed from their first win of the 2024-25 season, the San Antonio Spurs host the Houston Rockets again on Monday night. It will be the second of a two-game series between the Texas rivals. The Spurs won the first game 109:106.

Victor Wembanyama dominated the previous game with 29 points and 7 rebounds. His partner in crime, Jeremy Sochan, recorded a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. In the Spurs’ first win of the season, they caused Houston problems on both ends of the field. The second game is about both teams adapting to each other and finding a way to win. For Houston, that means stepping up to the plate and finding ways to slow down the Spurs’ offense. San Antonio will have to deal with Jalen Green and the rest of the Rockets’ offensive attack, which can tighten up in an instant.

San Antonio faces a tough stretch of its schedule and would do well to come out of this two-game series with a win. Houston will try to get back to .500 with a road win.

October 28, 2024 | 7:00 p.m. CT

View: Bally Southwest | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spore injuries: Devin Vassell – Out (foot), Tre Jones – Out (ankle)

Missile injuries: Steven Adams – Questionable (Knee), N’Faly Dante – Out (G League), Jack McVeigh – Out (G League), Nate Williams – Out (G League)

What you should pay attention to:

physicality

These two teams don’t seem to like each other. Expect some physicality from both teams after clashes broke out in the first game of this series. Victory in physical combat will be the key to victory in a duel. San Antonio dominated the glass in their last contest. This lead needs to be exploited again on Monday evening.

Protocol and Defense of Stephon Castle

With Tre Jones likely to miss multiple games, there is an opportunity for rookie Stephon Castle to get some minutes. He played 27 minutes Saturday night and made some big defensive plays. Houston even tried to shut down Castle late in the game using screens from key ballplayers so they could attack the Spurs in isolation. Castle’s defense is an asset and will be needed against a tough Houston outside attack.

Pace of the game

Spurs were at their best on Saturday when they upped the tempo. Relentlessly moving the ball and dropping in transition helped allow three-pointers for players like Julian Champagnie and created easy team opportunities for Keldon Johnson and Jeremy Sochan. The Rockets can fill it up quickly with all of their shots. The Spurs will have to play fast again to build a lead that can withstand a counterattack from Houston.