Houston Rockets vs San Antonio Spurs Picks and Prediction for Friday October 23, 2026
The Houston Rockets will be on the road for the first time this season Friday night with a game in Austin, TX, in the Moody Center against the San Antonio Spurs. Tip-off is set for 9:30 PM, with coverage on Prime. Houston comes into this matchup undefeated thus far this season after an 18-point home victory against the Dallas Mavericks opening night. San Antonio comes into Friday winless thus far this season after a 12-point loss to Oklahoma City in their season opener. San Antonio is a -5.5, and the total is set at 227.5. The Spurs are a -218 on the moneyline, while Houston comes into this game at +180. For more NBA news, see our NBA Picks.
Houston looks to stay undefeated
Houston opened the season strong on the offensive side, pouring in 128 points on 53% shooting and 44% from beyond the arc against Dallas. Defensively, Houston was shaky, giving up 110 points as Dallas shot 52% from the floor. Houston won the rebounding battle by 9 and forced 21 turnovers in the win. Houston was especially strong in the second quarter, outscoring Dallas by 26 points to pull away, leading to the comfortable win.
Kevin Durant led the way for the Houston offense in game one of the season with 30 points on 16 shots in 37 minutes. Jabari Smith Jr. also poured in 30 points on 17 shots in 36 minutes. Alperen Sengun added 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Amen Thompson added 16 points on 12 shots as the 4th starter in double figures. Marcus Smart led the way off the Houston bench with 10 points on six shots in 26 minutes.
Key Injury Report for Houston:
- Steven Adams (GTD) - Calf
- Reed Sheppard (GTD) - Knee
San Antonio hunts first win of the year
Defensively, San Antonio struggled in game one of the season, giving up 116 points including 65 in the first half, as Oklahoma City shot 45% from the floor and 45% from the outside. Offensively, San Antonio struggled, scoring 104 points but just 44 in the first half on 29.2% shooting from the field. San Antonio lost the rebounding battle by two and turned the ball over 14 times in the loss.
Stephon Castle led the way for the San Antonio offense in game one of the year with 24 points on 21 shots in 28 minutes. Dylan Harper added 18 points on 17 shots, and De’Aaron Fox chipped in a third-best 14 points on nine shots. Big man Victor Wembanyama added 12 points on 13 shots along with a team-high 13 rebounds. Keldon Johnson was the biggest spark off the San Antonio bench with 10 points on eight shots in 20 minutes.
Key Injury Report for San Antonio:
- De'Aaron Fox (GTD) - Wrist
- Keldon Johnson (GTD) - Mouth
- Tobias Harris (Out) - Calf
- Jayden Quaintance (Out) - Knee
Houston Rockets vs. San Antonio Spurs Picks and Prediction
Pick: San Antonio Spurs -5.5
San Antonio should bounce back from its season-opening loss when Houston visits Friday night. The Spurs have one of the most difficult defensive matchups in basketball with Victor Wembanyama, whose size and shot-blocking ability can significantly impact how opposing teams attack the basket. Houston has plenty of offensive talent and will look to establish its inside game through Alperen Sengun while creating scoring opportunities for its perimeter players. However, the Rockets could have difficulty consistently finishing around the basket if Wembanyama controls the paint. San Antonio will also need to limit Houston's offensive rebounding opportunities and avoid allowing the Rockets to generate additional possessions. The Spurs have the personnel to challenge Houston defensively while creating opportunities through their own offensive attack. With the benefit of playing at home, look for San Antonio to make enough plays down the stretch to secure an important early-season victory.
Pick: Over 227.5
Houston and San Antonio have enough offensive talent to produce a high-scoring matchup Friday night, especially if both teams establish their offensive rhythm early. The Rockets have several scoring options and should look to create opportunities through Sengun's ability to operate in the paint and facilitate offense for his teammates. San Antonio will attempt to use Wembanyama's versatility to create mismatches, while its perimeter players should have opportunities to attack when Houston commits additional defensive attention to the interior. Both teams have the ability to generate second-chance opportunities through offensive rebounding, which could become an important factor in the total. Houston will need to find ways to score against San Antonio's interior defense, but the Rockets have enough offensive weapons to remain competitive. If both teams consistently create quality looks and find success from the perimeter, this matchup should produce enough points to finish over the posted total.