Shooting woes

After making at least 15 3-pointers in an NBA-record five straight games, the Rockets struggled from long range, making just six of 38 tries.

"We got a break because they shot terribly," Ginobili said. "We did a pretty good job of contesting many of them but they missed some open ones, too, and that's not what they usually do."

Houston shot a season-low 38 percent overall and fell to 1-2 this season when shooting below 40 percent.

"We missed 30 (something) 3's and we still had a chance to win," Harden said.

"We should have won the game, but give them credit, they made shots."

Tip-ins

Spurs: Aldridge has scored at least 10 points in 23 of 25 games this season ... Pau Gasol had 10 points and 10 rebounds

Rockets: Nene had 10 points and seven rebounds in his first start of the campaign ... Dekker, who sat out all of his rookie season last year after back surgery, had 10 points ... Harden was named Western Conference player of the week on Monday. It was his 11th time winning the award and second time this season ... Ariza had four steals to give him at least three in five consecutive games.