Scott Wachter-Imagn Images The Spurs start their home season against I-10 rivals The Silver & Black will start their home season at the Frost Bank Center against bitter rivals the Houston Rockets. The Spurs are coming off a season opening loss to last year’s Western Conference Champions the Dallas Mavericks while the Rockets have opened the season 1-1. Houston lost their first game of the year to the visiting Charlotte Hornets who came back from as much as eighteen points to shock the Rockets late, before Houston rebounded last night in a twenty point rout against the injury-ravaged Memphis Grizzlies at home. The Rockets now travel for the first time this season where they went 14-27 in games on the road last year. While the Spurs played three solid quarters in their opening foray this season before Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and new recruit Klay Thompson took over the contest and separated on the scoreboard. There were certainly positives for the San Antonio ball club to take into game two but most crucially they will need their superstar Victor Wembanyama to produce a better performances than he showed in the first game of his sophomore season. San Antonio Spurs hosting Houston Rockets October 26th, 2024 | 7:30 CT Watch: KENS5 |Listen: WOAI (1200 AM) Spurs Injuries: Devin Vassell - Out (Foot) Tre Jones - Out (Ankle) Rockets Injuries: N/A What to watch for: Wemby Vs Sengun Last time these two matched up Alpren Sengun went for a career-high 45 points as he put the moves on Victor Wembanyama. Wemby did get his own in that matchup as he blocked eight shots with the majority coming against the Turkish center. With these two international stars going head to head the winner of the matchup will most likely decide whose team wins the game. With both now faces of their respective organisations after Sengun signed a 5yr/$185M deal just days prior to the beginning of the season, both will be tasked with a huge amount of responsibility in this contest. Pop’s Bench Rotation With Devin Vassell still out and Tre Jones added to the injury report and ruled out against the Rockets, Pop will be tasked with tinkering with his rotations just two games into the season. Against Dallas, Pop went with a five-man bench unit consisting of Tre, Stephon Castle, Keldon Johnson, Zach Collins and a touch of Blake Wesley minutes while the game was still in hand. It was just one game but the bench was not greatly productive and with one of their more consistent performers now out in Tre Jones, Coach Pop will be searching for answers. One option could be upping Blake Wesley’s minutes who was impressive in pre-season and having Castle at the 2. The other option consist of Pop giving the rookie the reigns early on in his career and giving the #4 overall pick the Point Guard responsibilities with potentially Malaki Branham beside him in the reserve backcourt. The Rockets have a reasonably deep team so it will be important for the Spurs bench to stand up to them and keep the game from getting out of reach when the starters go to the bench. For the Rockets’ fans’ perspective, visit The Dream Shake. PtR’s Game thread will be up this evening for those who want to chat through the game. You can also follow along with the action through PtR’s Twitter feed.