Miami, Oct 17: In a thrilling preseason matchup on Monday night, the San Antonio Spurs decided to rest their top prospect, Victor Wembanyama, as they faced off against the Houston Rockets. The Rockets, led by their two first-round picks, demonstrated their resilience by mounting a late comeback, ultimately securing a 99-89 victory.
The Spurs (1-2) initially held a comfortable 79-65 lead after Doug McDermott’s clutch 3-pointer with 11:06 remaining in the game. However, the Rockets clawed their way back, with Darius Days sinking two crucial free throws to give them an 88-87 lead with just 4:24 left on the clock. Cam Whitmore then stepped up with a pivotal 3-pointer, followed by two more critical shots in the final 96 seconds, totaling 11 points in the final period.
Fred VanVleet, a new addition to the Rockets’ roster, contributed 12 points and made three steals, while Aaron Holiday also added 12 points to the scoreboard. On the Spurs’ side, Zach Collins led the team with 18 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, and Jeremy Sochan chipped in with 13 points and four steals.
In another preseason showdown, the Philadelphia 76ers secured their first victory by defeating the Brooklyn Nets 127-119. Kelly Oubre Jr. led the charge with 21 points, while Tobias Harris and Paul Reed contributed 18 points each for Philadelphia (1-2). Oubre’s all-around performance included four rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks. De’Anthony Melton impressed with 15 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, and four steals.
Cam Thomas led the Brooklyn Nets (1-2) with 18 points, and reserves Royce O’Neale, Trendon Watford, and Lonnie Walker IV each added 13 points. Nic Claxton had a perfect shooting night, making all six of his shots and contributing 12 points.
In yet another thrilling matchup, the Indiana Pacers secured their first preseason victory by handing the Atlanta Hawks their first loss, winning 116-112. Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith played pivotal roles for the Pacers (1-2), each contributing 15 points. Haliburton also grabbed eight rebounds, while Nesmith made three 3-pointers. Myles Turner added 13 points and blocked three shots. Notably, Jarace Walker, acquired in a trade with the Washington Wizards and the eighth overall pick, scored four points, while first-rounder Ben Sheppard added nine points.
Saddiq Bey led the Atlanta Hawks (3-1) with a remarkable performance, totaling 21 points and 10 rebounds in just 20 minutes off the bench. De’Andre Hunter contributed 16 points, and AJ Griffin scored 15, while Kobe Bufkin, the 15th overall pick, added eight points, six rebounds, and three assists.
In a unique matchup, the Cleveland Cavaliers hosted Maccabi, an Israeli team, defeating them 120-89. Rookie Emoni Bates, a second-round selection for Cleveland, made a significant impact with 16 points, including four three-pointers. Ty Jerome added 15 points, six assists, and four rebounds, while Dean Wade contributed 13 points and eight rebounds.
Maccabi, known for its international presence, visited the U.S. and played against NBA teams last year, including the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Oklahoma City Thunder. (AP)
