Wembanyama’s buzzer attempt blocked, Spurs fall to Rockets 114-110

In a dramatic regular season opener on October 23, 2026, the San Antonio Spurs fell to the Houston Rockets 114-110 at Frost Bank Center, despite a dominant double-double from Victor Wembanyama whose potential game-winning attempt was rejected in the final seconds, denying the home crowd a memorable victory to start the year.

Sengun vs. Wemby: a duel that defined the night

The Spurs set the tone early with Wembanyama asserting himself in the paint and on the perimeter, looking sharp in the first half. Dylan Harper provided immediate energy off the wing, while De’Aaron Fox pushed the pace to keep San Antonio within striking distance. Houston, however, leaned on Alperen Sengun from the opening tip — the Turkish center relentlessly attacking the paint and pulling up from mid-range, keeping the Rockets competitive through the first two quarters.

The third quarter proved pivotal. Sengun elevated his performance to a different level, orchestrating possessions with creativity and finishing through contact. Kevin Durant contributed timely buckets on the opposite end, and Houston’s collective poise began to chip away at whatever margin San Antonio had built. The Rockets closed the third ahead, carrying genuine momentum into the final frame.

The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth grind. Fox delivered 9 assists and drained clutch mid-range jumpers, but a brutal minus-14 plus/minus underscored how badly Houston targeted him defensively. Stephon Castle fought hard with 15 points and 7 rebounds, yet the Spurs could never fully shake the Rockets’ grip. San Antonio trailed by four in the dying seconds when the ball found its way to their franchise cornerstone — but Amen Thompson, the athletic wing who finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, leapt to swat Wembanyama’s final attempt and seal the win for Houston.

The play everyone will replay: Thompson denies the Alien

With the clock winding toward zero and the Spurs down four, the ball landed in the hands of the n°1 pick of the 2023 draft, who rose for what would have been an extraordinary buzzer-beater. Thompson timed his contest perfectly and sent the shot into the stands, triggering celebration from the Rockets bench. The sequence encapsulated both the brilliance of Wembanyama — willing to take and capable of making that shot — and the defensive intensity Houston brought all night long.

Wembanyama’s 25-13 masked by a tough loss

Wembanyama’s performance

Victor Wembanyama finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 assists in 32 minutes, shooting 9-of-21 from the field and connecting on 2-of-6 from beyond the arc. A plus-3 plus/minus made him the Spurs’ best net contributor on the night. The phénomène was clearly engaged and physically imposing, but shot selection and efficiency will be areas to monitor as the season progresses.

• Victor Wembanyama: 25 pts, 13 reb, 2 blk, 2 ast — 9/21 FG
• Dylan Harper: 20 pts, 3 reb — 8/15 FG
• De’Aaron Fox: 19 pts, 9 ast — 6/11 FG
• Stephon Castle: 15 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast
• Devin Vassell: 10 pts, 3 stl

Team context: a young core tested immediately

For the Rockets, Sengun was simply outstanding — 29 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists on 10-of-20 shooting — forcing San Antonio’s defense to make impossible choices all night. Durant added 20 points on a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line, while Thompson’s double-double and momentum-swinging block rounded out a complete Houston performance. The final score of 114-110 reflects how close this contest was, yet also how decisive the Rockets were in the moments that mattered.

What comes next for San Antonio

Dropping the regular season opener at home is far from ideal, but the Spurs showed enough offensive firepower — four players reaching double figures — to project optimism. The French phénomène set the tone for what should be a spectacular individual campaign, and San Antonio will look to tighten its defensive rotations and reduce late-game mistakes when they return to action later this week. The Western Conference is loaded, and every game carries weight early — expect this young roster to respond.