For the second time in three days, the Houston Rockets dismantled the New Orleans Pelicans, this time emphatically, with a 146-117 victory on Saturday night. The loss marks the fourth in five games for New Orleans, as poor defensive effort and turnovers plagued the Pelicans.
Rockets Set the Tone Early
Houston wasted no time getting to work, jumping to a double-digit lead in the first quarter. Dillon Brooks led the way with 27 points, including seven three-pointers, while Alperen Sengun and Aaron Holiday each added 20. The Rockets were relentless, shooting 55.6% from the field and 42.5% from deep. New Orleans struggled to find a defensive identity, allowing Houston to dictate the pace from start to finish.
Momentum Shift Before the Half
Despite falling behind by 20 points in the second quarter, the Pelicans showed some fight with an 11-0 run fueled by Jose Alvarado’s energy off the bench. Alvarado finished with 17 points and seven assists, giving the Pelicans a much-needed spark. However, when it looked like New Orleans might make a game of it, Brooks and Amen Thompson closed the half with a crushing 12-5 Rockets run, capped off by two free throws from Brooks after a costly Pelicans turnover. Houston took a 74-59 lead into halftime.
Third-Quarter Collapse
The game slipped further away from New Orleans in the third quarter. Houston’s offensive firepower was on full display as all five starters reached double-digit scoring. The Rockets extended their lead to 26 points by the end of the period, putting the game out of reach. By the 2:28 mark of the third, Houston had already racked up 100 points, further highlighting the Pelicans’ inability to slow them down.
Pelicans’ Takeaways
New Orleans allowed a season-high 146 points, the most they’ve given up all year. They’ve now allowed Houston to score at least 128 points in three separate meetings this season. Defensive woes continue to be a major issue, as the Pelicans couldn’t contain Houston’s fast-paced offense. On the bright side, Jose Alvarado played one of his best offensive games of the season, giving the Pelicans some much-needed production when things got out of hand early. Zion Williamson finished with 20 points but struggled to assert himself in a game where the Pelicans desperately needed a dominant performance.
Looking Ahead
The Pelicans don’t have much time to dwell on this loss, as they return home to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night. New Orleans needs a quick turnaround if they want to avoid another setback. The Pelicans will need a stronger defensive effort and more consistency from their stars if they hope to get back on track.
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