{"id":687645,"date":"2026-03-30T08:50:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T08:50:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/687645\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T08:50:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T08:50:36","slug":"pelicans-hang-for-quarter-then-rockets-turn-on-afterburners-field-level-media-professional-sports-content-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/687645\/","title":{"rendered":"Pelicans hang for quarter, then Rockets turn on afterburners – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alperen Sengun paired 36 points with 13 rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets to a 134-102 victory over the host New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Sengun hit 5 of 7 threes, dished seven assists, recorded three steals and swatted three shots in an all-around performance.<\/p>\n

Jabari Smith Jr. had 20 points, as did Kevin Durant, who sat out the entire fourth quarter of the blowout win for Houston (45-29), which holds a four-game lead over Phoenix for the final guaranteed playoff spot in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n

Clint Capela pulled down 14 boards in 16 minutes off the bench.<\/p>\n

Dejounte Murray scored 19 for New Orleans (25-51), which suffered its fifth consecutive loss.<\/p>\n

Saddiq Bey and Zion Williamson contributed 18 points each.<\/p>\n

Houston jumped ahead early before the Pelicans produced a 12-2 response to level the score at 29 at the end of the first quarter.<\/p>\n

From there, New Orleans was blown away.<\/p>\n

The Rockets started the second frame with a 23-3 burst, all while Durant was sitting on the pine.<\/p>\n

Sengun scored 14 for the period, giving him a 20-point first half, including 3 of 3 from deep.<\/p>\n

His lob pass for Thompson\u2019s spectacular alley-oop dunk with two seconds left capped a 39-18 Houston quarter, which saw the margin swell to 68-47 at halftime.<\/p>\n

The Pelicans coughed up six turnovers for the period and were outrebounded 16-5.<\/p>\n

The Rockets\u2019 cushion swelled to 73-49 early in the third, before New Orleans went on a 14-3 run to close the gap to 76-63.<\/p>\n

Williamson was active offensively as the Pelicans tidied up the turnovers and improved their rebounding, but Houston finished the quarter strongly to move back ahead 101-80 with one to play.<\/p>\n

With Durant resting again, Sengun dominated the fourth period.<\/p>\n

The margin blew out to 128-95 late as both teams emptied their benches.<\/p>\n

\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n

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