Spurs vs. Rockets recap, reactions: Spurs shut down Rockets

The San Antonio Spurs took down the Houston Rockets to move one step closer to the postseason.

The San Antonio Spurs took down the Houston Rockets 100-83 on Easter Sunday in San Antonio. San Antonio was clearly the better team today in every facet of the game. The defense was stifling and the offense was well rounded. Five players scored in double digits, including Rudy Gay who contributed 21 off the bench in an incredibly efficient performance. Chris Paul sat out the game to help nurse a hip injury and rest up for a playoff run.

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The victory today snapped Houston’s 11-game winning streak and helped the squad improve to 45-32 on the season. San Antonio’s legendary streak of consecutive 50-win seasons is still in play. All they have to do is win their next five games, three of which will be played away from the comforts of the AT&T center, in order to secure 50 wins. It’s not going to be easy but it could happen.

The Spurs took control of the game early in the first quarter and never let go. Rudy Gay‘s early energy off the bench was great for San Antonio. With Kawhi Leonard likely to miss the playoffs Gay’s contributions from the wing will be vital to San Antonio’s postseason success. He was getting to his spots in the mid-range with ease early on and would end up finishing the game shooting 9-13 from the field. One sequence, in particular, had the Spurs faithful out of their seats.

Rudy again ?

This time the block and the dunk! #GoSpursGo https://t.co/JeVV0yqz0Y

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 1, 2018

While Kyle Anderson didn’t fill up the stat sheet we have to showcase this fancy little euro-step finish midway through the 2nd quarter.

https://twitter.com/spurs/status/980542870842105856

Herky-jerky SloMo finishes will never stop being entertaining. Somehow, someway, the guy finds his way to the rim at his own pace. LaMarcus Aldridge was the same rock-solid force that he has been all season. He finished the first half with 11 points 9 rebounds and 3 blocks and would finish with an impressive 23/14/3 line.

With the playoffs only a few games away every game is a must-win as San Antonio jockeys for position in the tight Western Conference. These next few games will be critical. Home court advantage would be a blessing for the Silver and Black and would go a long way toward helping San Antonio bring home another title. San Antonio has struggled this season, there’s no debating that, but in the playoffs, when coaching, defense, and solid half-court play mean more than they do in the regular season, the Spurs have the veterans, both on the court and in the coaching staff, to make a run. Other teams might seem more talented on paper but I’ll take Gregg Popovich’s ability to make adjustments and out-coach the opposition over a seven-game series every time.

The Spurs every damn year pic.twitter.com/eR0XpWIxBX

— Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) April 1, 2018

It’s certainly shaping up to be an exciting end to the season. Buckle in Spurs fans, this should be good.