Tari Eason matched his season high with 20 points and the Houston Rockets ended an 11-game losing streak, beating the San Antonio Spurs 122-110 on Saturday night.

Alperen Sengun had 16 points and K.J. Martin and Josh Christopher each added 14 points for the Rockets in the opener of a home-and-home series.

Last in the NBA at 14-49, Houston had not won since Feb. 1.

“We just played together,” said Eason, a rookie out of LSU. “The ball has energy. So, you find the open man, they pass it to the next open man, and we just knocked down open shots.”

The Rockets had eight players score in double figures while shooting 56% from the field and finishing with 26 assists in snapping a five-game skid against the Spurs.

Devonte’ Graham had 28 points to lead San Antonio. Zach Collins added 14 points and 10 rebounds.

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich and lead assistant Brett Brown returned after missing the Spurs’ game Thursday night against Indiana because of non-COVID illnesses.

The Spurs are still without Keldon Johnson, however, and Devin Vassell sat out after playing Thursday following a 25-game absence.

Vying for the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, San Antonio entered having won two straight after losing a franchise-record 16 straight. It is 4-24 in 2023. Houston is 4-23 in 2023.
Prior to the game, Popovich stressed the importance of patience for both teams in this transition season for both young rosters.

The Spurs and Rockets played with little patience offensively Saturday.

“I like to run and gun,” Graham said. “It was definitely fun for me, but they outran us tonight. Too many turnovers, second-chance points and points in the paint.”