Barnes Scores 24 as Spurs Beat Rockets 121-110 in NBA Cup Opener
San Antonio — Harrison Barnes led the San Antonio Spurs to a 121-110 victory over the Houston Rockets in the NBA Cup opener on Friday night. Barnes scored 24 points, while Julian Champagnie and Victor Wembanyama contributed 22 points each.
Kevin Durant paced Houston with 24 points, and Alperen Sengun added 22, but the Rockets’ five-game winning streak came to an end.
Key Highlights
- Barnes sealed the win with the final four points — a pair of free throws and a breakaway dunk following a midcourt steal with 12 seconds left.
- Champagnie scored nine of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, going 6-for-13 from beyond the arc.
- He also grabbed a crucial offensive rebound and secured a defensive loose ball with the Spurs ahead 115-108.
Additional NBA Action
In Washington, Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points, Darius Garland added 20 points and nine assists, and the Cleveland Cavaliers cruised past the Wizards to even their NBA Cup record at 1-1.
Cleveland fell one point shy of matching its franchise record for points in regulation, set during a 149-135 win in Denver last December.
The Cavaliers’ overall scoring record remains a 154-153 quadruple-overtime home victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in January.
Flashback Record
Cleveland also notched 148 points in a win over Miami in December 1991, showcasing the team’s long history of offensive firepower.
Author’s Summary: Barnes’ clutch performance powered San Antonio past Houston in the NBA Cup opener, while Cleveland posted another strong scoring night against Washington.