<\/p>\n
Amen Thompson blocks a potential tying dunk by Victor Wembanyama in the closing seconds to save a win by the Rockets.<\/p>\n
Ronald Cortes\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (1) blocks a shot by San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) to secure a 114-110 victory during an NBA game at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026.<\/p>\n
Sam Owens\/San Antonio Express-News<\/p>\n
Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (1) blocks a shot by San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) to secure a 114-110 victory during an NBA game at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026.<\/p>\n
Sam Owens\/San Antonio Express-News<\/p>\n
San Antonio Spurs guard De’aaron Fox (4) guards Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) during the first quarter at Moody Center in Austin, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026.<\/p>\n
Sam Owens\/San Antonio Express-News<\/p>\n
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7), guard Amen Thompson (1) and forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) react to a play made by center Alperen Sengun (28) against the San Antonio Spurs at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. The Rockets won 114-110.<\/p>\n
Sam Owens\/San Antonio Express-News<\/p>\n
AUSTIN \u2014 Amen Thompson<\/a> did the impossible, twice. First, the young Houston Rockets<\/a>\u00a0star rolled to the hoop, getting a step on 7-foot-5 Victor Wembanyama before dunking it despite a block attempt from the San Antonio Spurs’ phenom.<\/p>\n Then, with Houston up just two points with mere seconds left in Friday\u2019s game, Thopmson found himself guarding the Spurs big man in the post.<\/p>\n In theory, a mismatch. In reality, a mistake. Thompson, 10 inches shorter than Wembanyama, sprang into the air to meet Wembanyama\u2019s turnaround layup, swatting it out of bounds in a play that ultimately secured Houston\u2019s 114-110 win at Moody Center.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cI can jump pretty high,\u201d Thompson said when asked how he made the play. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t try to keep ducking me in [posting up] but you know, if they want to they can.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe kind of took it personal,\u201d teammate Alperen \u015eeng\u00fcn<\/a> said.<\/p>\n Thompson finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. After the block,\u00a0Kevin Durant<\/a> enveloped him with a hug. \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Thompson appeared to reply on the broadcast.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Coach Ime Udoka said Thompson is quick enough to stay in front of anybody, strong enough to fight with most guys and athletic enough to challenge anybody.\u00a0<\/p>\n Friday\u2019s play against Wembanyama, an outlier even among the high-altitude world of the NBA, proved that really means anybody.<\/p>\n Houston also got an impressive performance from fellow young star \u015eeng\u00fcn, who poured in 29 points \u2014 14 in the fourth quarter \u2014 along with seven rebounds and seven assists.<\/p>\n The Rockets turned to \u015eeng\u00fcn time and time again in the post down the stretch. The big man bullied Spurs backup center Luke Kornet and Wembanyama, putting him under the rim before pump fakes and quick moves to finish on either side of the rim.<\/p>\n \u201cBro, that\u2019s what I do in [postups], man\u201d he said when asked about his effectiveness. \u201cWhoever guards me, they\u2019re big but I\u2019m a little faster than them. I can put them under the rim and figure out after that where I can shoot.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The two young talents did so much that Durant only had to take 10 shots.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s my game,\u201d Durant said. \u201cAlways been my game. Being able to sacrifice for your teammates and knowing when it\u2019s your time, I think that\u2019s key.\u201d<\/p>\n Durant said he told \u015eeng\u00fcn he was ready to \u201cbang one from the wing\u201d if needed. For most of the night, the Rockets didn\u2019t. But with 92 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Durant ran off a screen from Thompson and curled around a dribble handoff with \u015eeng\u00fcn before raising up and knocking down a 3-pointer that gave Houston needed cushion. He finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists.<\/p>\n The key question for the Rockets entering this season is how they would match up with the presumptive top two teams in the Western Conference, the Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.\u00a0<\/p>\n Some around the league doubt Houston<\/a> can enter that tier in large part because of questions around the top-end of the Rockets roster: Durant is older and Thompson and \u015eeng\u00fcn have yet to prove themselves as truly elite players like Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and a small group of others.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The second game of the regular season determines nothing, and Houston\u2019s most important tests will come in the spring.<\/p>\n But Friday\u2019s win over the defending Western Conference champions in a hostile environment doesn\u2019t mean nothing, especially because of how it happened.<\/p>\n \u015eeng\u00fcn and Thompson, the Rockets two best young players, took control of a game with one of those elite talents on the opposing sideline \u2014 continuing a strong start to the season that maybe, just maybe, could end with them vaulting into a new tier among their NBA peers and the Rockets exceeding external expectations.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like this is the best team I\u2019ve ever been on and the chemistry is really good,\u201d \u015eeng\u00fcn said. \u201c \u2026 Everybody loves each other out here. That\u2019s one of the most important [things] to me. When we go out and we battle, we fight \u2026 I think we can beat anybody in this league.\u201d<\/p>\n Other notes from the win<\/p>\n \u2022 \u00a0 \u00a0The Rockets had plenty of answers when the Spurs guarded Thompson with Wembanyama and had the big man sag back. Thompson recognized those moments and often turned into a screener or hub on dribble handoffs, helping free up teammates and even himself for the aforementioned dunk on Wembanyama.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Amen Thompson fake DHO + ridiculous driving dunk. https:\/\/t.co\/ky4wH3OojU<\/p>\n
Durant\u2019s first words to Thompson after the game-saving play: \u201cThe f\u2014 wrong with [Wembanyama], thinking he going to just lay it up so easy?\u201d<\/p>\n