In James Harden’s second and the Houston Rockets’ final NBA preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs, the Rockets won comfortably after taking an early seven-point lead in the first quarter. For the Rockets, both DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall were rested in preparation for the Houston Rockets’ return to the regular NBA season against the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 24. The San Antonio Spurs missed both Keita Bates-Diop and Keldon Johnson, who are expected to return for the team's first NBA regular season game against the Memphis Grizzlies.Welcome to Houston Christian Wood!!@Chriswood_5 makes his @HoustonRockets debutWatch the Rockets vs Spurs RIGHT NOW on AT&T SportsNet pic.twitter.com/ONFCvPOCxQ— AT&T SportsNet SW (@ATTSportsNetSW) December 18, 2020The Houston Rockets take early control as Christian Wood goes off against the San Antonio SpursChristian Wood’s stellar debut lifts Rockets over Spurs in final preseason game https://t.co/pF1cmwKX27— 😬 (@DreamShakeSBN) December 18, 2020The Houston Rockets started the game strong and built an early lead after quick buckets from Eric Gordon and Christian Wood. Wood recently signed a three-year, $41 million deal with the Houston Rockets after starting the NBA offseason as a free agent. He was dealing with a minor elbow injury and ended the game with 27 points..@Chriswood_5 drops 27 Pts, 10/18 FGM, 10 Rebs in his Rockets preseason debut vs Spurs 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/pX6mfd4KBW— FreeDawkins.com (@DawkinsMTA) December 18, 2020The San Antonio Spurs could not get their offensive act, together although the second quarter was not as one-sided as the first. However, the Spurs’ defense appeared haphazard in the third quarter as they appeared incapable of dealing with the Houston Rockets’ sharp ball movement. Analytically, the Spurs are such a horrible team. They’re shooting 2/25 from 3 against the Rockets. That’s BAD.— Aqib Gazi (@Aqib_Rockets) December 18, 2020Demar just turning it over constantly to start the 4th, easy points forward Rockets This is the least I’ve enjoyed a Spurs game in a very long time.— Trav Talks Sports Once Again (@VegasDogGuy1) December 18, 2020No Wall ... No Cousins tonight ...Rockets up on the Spurs by 31 points with 1 minute left in the 3rd quarter.Wow.— DavidMorant (@DavidMorant48) December 18, 2020By the end of the third quarter, the Houston Rockets had increased their lead to 30 points. James Harden began to dominate proceedings and was the major ball-handler as one would expect. Harden finished the game with 20 points and led his team against a woeful San Antonio Spurs defense that appeared to be lacking intensity.Big night for James Harden as the Rockets (-4) hammer the Spurs. Over 221 bettors pick up a W as well. 📈 pic.twitter.com/twfFPfTc4b— theScore Bet (@theScoreBet) December 18, 2020END 3RD:Rockets 98Spurs 68Leaders: Wood- 27 PTS, 10 REB, 24 MINGordon- 23 PTS, 5 AST, 50% 3PHarden- 20 PTS, 7 REB, 9 ASTYOU TRULY LOVE TO SEE IT— Christian Wood Fan Club (@RocketsLead) December 18, 2020Rockets blowing the Spurs away— say less. (@_clearlyspoken) December 18, 2020On the opposite end of the court, the San Antonio Spurs displayed slow ball movement and had an overall field-goal percentage of just 40.9. Conversely, the Houston Rockets were offensively efficient and registered a field goal percentage of 52.7.Rockets have held the Spurs to 32.8% shooting w/5:40 left in the third; opponents shot below 45.0% in each of the first three preseason games (41.1% overall); Houston was 20-5 when holding opponents below 45.0% shooting in 2019-20, including 7-0 below 40.0%.— Kris M Gardner (@TheHRReview) December 18, 2020James Harden shot 57% FG & 50% 3P in the Rockets blowout win against the Spurs! pic.twitter.com/8xDRA1JXqb— Basketball Forever (@Bballforeverfb) December 18, 2020With the Houston Rockets fielding their reserves in the fourth quarter, the San Antonio Spurs registered a resurgence of sorts and bit into the Houston Rockets' lead. However, it was hardly enough as the game ended with a comfortable 22-point victory for the Houston Rockets.We’re getting smoked by the rockets B team— SPURS MAR (@Mar2Man) December 18, 2020It’s only pre season but it’s always nice to see the Rockets shit on the Spurs 🤣— Edward (@EJRodz6) December 18, 2020rockets are hoooooping with the reserves against the spurs starters 😭— trent michael🕷 (@trenthuncho) December 18, 2020This was their second consecutive preseason victory against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA preseason 2020-21. Christian Wood ended the night with 27 points and 10 rebounds, while James Harden registered 20 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds. Eric Gordon also had an impressive final preseason game and scored 23 points for the Houston Rockets.All it took was playing the spurs to change hardens mind about leaving the Rockets... strap in boys— SPURS MAR (@Mar2Man) December 18, 2020Eric Gordon is looking great. Wood is looking great. Harden is looking like Harden. Cousins & Wall have played very well. Brown, Tate & Nwaba have shown a lot of promise. And no rotation player got injured. This preseason by the Rockets went about as well as you could hope for.— Disney Gary Clark (@Itamar1710) December 18, 2020#Rockets are destroying the Spurs— Houston Texans Talk (@HoustonTexansT1) December 18, 2020The San Antonio Spurs will be looking to shrug off a dismal preseason campaign, which also saw them lose their first game against the Oklahama City Thunder. DeMar DeRozan scored a team high 21 points as Devin VassVessel chipped in with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists.I know it’s only the preseason, and I know it’s only the Spurs, but man this is fun— TREY🦧➐ excited rockets fan (@ThetreyJG) December 18, 2020FINAL: #Rockets 128-106 Spurs.Wood: 27 pts, 10 rebsGordon: 23 pts, 5 astsHarden: 20 pts, 9 astsCaboclo: 12 pts, 3 astsHouse: 9 pts, 6 rebsBrown e McLemore: 7 pts cadaTucker e Thomas: 6 pts cadaNwaba e Martin: 4 pts cadaJones: 3 pts, 2 astsFim da pré-temporada. 🚀🤘🏾 pic.twitter.com/htiUATOg3o— Clutch City Brasil (@ClutchCityBR) December 18, 2020If only the Rockets could play the Spurs every night.....— Dune (@Dune_in_Katy) December 18, 2020