Rockets Beat Spurs in Preseason Opener

Posted: December 17, 2011 -- 11:59pm CST.

HOUSTON – Showing no bad feelings about being traded then not being traded, Luis Scola scored 20 points Saturday night to help the Rockets defeat the San Antonio Spurs 101-87 in the first of two preseason games this season.

"Luis played well. He's a gamer," Kevin McHale, Rockets' head coach said after the game. That guy has been a pro since he was 15 years old. He's got a whole different look when the popcorn starts popping."

Scola scored the Rockets' first six points of the game and eight of the team's first 10.

"I had a couple of shots and made them. I was able to get it going," Scola said. "I sill need a couple more days to get in shape and to get my rhythm back; but, I feel pretty good."

The Rockets limited the Spurs to just 6 made field goals out of 23 attempts (26.1%) in the first quarter; but, the Spurs stayed in the game thanks to nine Rockets' fouls which helped the Spurs shoot 12 free throws (made 7) in the opening quarter.

Fouls were a problem throughout the ball game for the Rockets. The Rockets were whistled for 36 fouls which resulted in 42 Spurs' free throw attempts.

"We fouled too much," McHale said. "But, we've really been aggressive in practice. We've been letting them beat the crap out of each other; so, I suppose that carries over to the game a little bit which is okay. We put them on the line too much."

The Rockets led the Spurs 24-20 at the end of the first quarter and 51-36 at halftime.

The Spurs shot a frigid 20.0% (8 for 40) in the opening 24 minutes. However, the Spurs' offense finally escaped the deep freezer in the third quarter (57.9%, 11 for 19) which helped trim the Rockets' lead to 71-65 at the end of the third quarter.

Rockets guard Terrence Williams scored 12 points in the fourth quarter to help the Rockets pull away from the Spurs and pick up the victory.

Williams was much more aggressive and effective in the second half compared to his stint in the first half. Williams was 0 for 4 in the first half; but, 7 for 9 from the field in the second half.

"First half...horrible," Williams admitted. "I realized that was really the most minutes I had played since December of last year with the Nets. I think once I got all the wrinkles out, overall for myself, things started to pick up again in the second half."

Coach McHale critiqued Williams' performance and said, "I thought Terrence did some good stuff. Terrence had four turnovers; but, three of them were definitely correctable. Big time.

"A lot of correctable stuff," McHale added. "I think with Terrence you've got to put him in situations and help him through some stuff. He likes the game. He likes to study the game. He'll be fine."

Jordan Hill had a very solid game for the Rockets. Hill scored 17 points and snared a team-high 13 rebounds including eight offensive boards.

"I was just out there having fun," Hill said. "I was focused on my main focal point, rebounding and defending to the best of my ability and to help out my team in anyway possible to get a win."

McHale acknowledged he was happy with some of the combinations which the Rockets played.

"There were some units that played very well together," said McHale. And that's kind of what I'm looking for.

"It was a good, overall first-exhibition type game."

CLICK HERE for The HRR's Rockets' write-ups.