NEW ORLEANS — It usually wouldn’t, but the Houston Rockets' 134-102 win over the New Orleans Pelicans felt like a big deal.

That’s what happens when you lose 12 games against teams against squads with a .500 or worse record, including a recent defeat to a tanking team that led coach Ime Udoka to say his team “disrespected the game” with its lackadaisical play. Too often, the Rockets have started slow against inferior opponents — at least on paper — and let their foes gain comfort and confidence.

Hideous losses ensue.

That script didn’t unfold Sunday at Smoothie King Center. The two teams battled to a draw in the first quarter, but Houston blew the game open with a 39-18 second quarter. The Rockets limited the Pelicans to shoot just 29.4 percent from the field and forced five turnovers in the frame. 

The Pelicans offered some resistance, cutting the deficit to 13 midway through the third quarter, but the Rockets rebuilt a 21-point lead at the end of the frame and cruised to a second straight victory. After the game, Udoka highlighted the re-establishment of the lead as his favorite stretch.

To read more: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/houston-new-orleans-pelicans-score-recap-22158327.php

4 comments

  1. Good to see him back into form coming off that lower back issue and heading into the playoffs. I agree with what others said that the best version of our team is when Sengun is able to play as a hub. Allows KD to focus on being scoring assassin he is and not worry as much about the other offensive duties at and it allows the young guys to get the ball in the right spots to make plays. At the end of the day we still have a lot of flaws but if we could actually finish the season playing good ball and having the guys playing with good effort I’ll take it. Also hope we see Tari and Goon continuing to knock down them threes 🙏

  2. It would be really cool to know more about the team meeting Alpi and Tari talked about. Is there anything you can share about that, or maybe learn more from your sources?

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