Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka reflected on his team’s 111-99 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, citing stagnation and defensive pressure as key issues. “We got too stagnant trying to hunt certain matchups… they upped the pressure and got us some of our spots,” Udoka said.
Udoka addressed the Spurs’ cross-matching strategy, which put smaller defenders on Alperen Sengun and Wembanyama on bigger players. “We still have to keep playing regardless of who’s setting the screen… I don’t think we were setting good screens from our men,” he noted.
He highlighted difficulties in executing offensive sets against San Antonio’s ball pressure. “Kevin didn’t get much opportunity to touch the ball… it’s a two-way thing—less standing, more pace for both players,” Udoka said. He stressed the need for better off-ball movement and screen-setting to create separation.
Fouling was another area of concern. “Wemby got to the line too much… being physical without fouling, contesting without fouling,” Udoka explained, acknowledging the impact of free throws on the fourth-quarter run.
Udoka also noted the Rockets’ struggles to convert offensive rebounds into points. “Seventeen is a decent number, but we have to convert those opportunities… kickouts are a big part of what we do as well,” he said.
The coach emphasized that energy sagged when the offense stalled. “We weren’t scoring, and that was part of it… we still have to do our part defensively when we’re not scoring at the clip we need to be,” Udoka said. He pointed to Dylan Harper and Keldon Johnson driving downhill effectively as a challenge Houston couldn’t counter.
Despite the loss, Udoka maintained perspective on the team’s progress. “Up and down… we showed flashes… we’re searching for consistency,” he said. Udoka added that the Rockets must emulate what works and stick to the fundamentals when things are going well.
The defeat drops Houston to 28-17, remaining fourth in the Western Conference. The Rockets now begin a road trip in Atlanta on Thursday, while the Spurs improve to 32-15, holding second place after their comeback behind Victor Wembanyama’s 28 points, 16 rebounds, and five blocks.
