Rockets finish street dropping streak as Alperen Sengun flexes All-Star muscle in New Orleans

The Rockets completed up a three-game street journey with Thursday’s 109-97 victory (field rating) over the New Orleans Pelicans. With its win on the Smoothie King Heart, Houston snapped a skid of three straight losses, total, and an eight-game street dropping streak that dated again to late January.

All-Star middle Alperen Sengun led the guests with 22 factors, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, and three steals whereas making a particularly environment friendly 11-of-14 pictures (78.6%). Sengun largely dominated his inside matchups versus rookie Yves Missi and a defensively restricted veteran in Kelly Olynyk.

The Rockets (38-25) stay at No. 5 within the Western Convention standings and at the moment are solely a half-game behind Memphis (38-24) for first place within the NBA’s Southwest Division and the No. 4 seed — which might imply home-court benefit in at the least one spherical of the 2025 playoffs.

The Pelicans (17-46) stay in second-to-last place within the West. Nonetheless, New Orleans has been a lot improved when taking part in with famous person ahead Zion Williamson, who has missed a lot of the 2024-25 season as a result of accidents. Coming into Thursday, of their final 5 video games with Williamson out there, New Orleans had gained 4 of them.

As anticipated, Williamson was wholesome and in Thursday’s beginning lineup, although veteran Dillon Brooks helped restrict him to an inefficient taking pictures evening (33.3% FG) with 4 turnovers.

For the Rockets, veteran guard Fred VanVleet was once more sidelined by a proper ankle harm, which has been the case for all however one sport since Feb. 1. He stays day-to-day in standing. The Pelicans have been with out Herb Jones and Dejounte Murray as a result of season ending accidents.

Learn on for real-time protection and postgame updates. Past the aforementioned Sengun, ultimate statistical traces of notice (for each groups) included:

• Tari Eason: 20 factors, 5 steals, 4 assists; 7-of-14 taking pictures (50.0%), 4-of-8 on 3-pointers (50.0%)

• Dillon Brooks: 14 factors, 4 rebounds; 6-of-9 taking pictures (66.7%)

• Jalen Inexperienced: 9 factors, 8 assists; 3-of-10 taking pictures (30.0%), 2-of-7 on 3-pointers (28.6%)

• Amen Thompson: 21 factors, 11 rebounds; 10-of-13 taking pictures (76.9%)

• Jabari Smith Jr.: 16 factors, 5 rebounds; 6-of-13 taking pictures (46.2%), 2-of-8 on 3-pointers (25.0%)

• Trey Murphy III (Pelicans): 26 factors, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks; 9-of-15 taking pictures (60.0%), 3-of-8 on 3-pointers (37.5%), 5-of-5 on free throws

• Zion Williamson (Pelicans): 20 factors, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks; 5-of-15 taking pictures (33.3%), 10-of-12 on free throws (83.3%)

Sport Highlights

Rockets Flex Defensive Muscle to Safe Win

After scoring 33 factors within the third, the Rockets grinded it out the remainder of the best way. They solely scored 20 factors within the fourth quarter, however that was largely a strategic transfer with Houston opting to run clock on offense and keep away from the turnover dangers that may be related to pushing tempo.

Trey Murphy III completed with a game-high 26 factors, however solely 5 of these got here after halftime. Houston regained its elite defensive type (rated No. 4 amongst 30 NBA groups) in holding the Pelicans to solely 38 factors within the second half.

Dillon Brooks did phenomenal work defending Zion Williamson (33.3% FG, 4 turnovers), and after halftime, Houston’s protection seemed to be rather more ready for Murphy’s off-ball actions.

After Three Quarters: Rockets 89, Pelicans 74

On paper, Thursday’s greatest mismatch in favor of Houston was All-Star middle Alperen Sengun dealing with off in opposition to Pelicans rookie Yves Missi. It took a while, however the Rockets have lastly discovered their offensive rhythm using Sengun as the point of interest.

By means of three quarters, Sengun leads the Rockets in factors (18) and assists (6) whereas making 9-of-12 pictures (75.0%). A lot of these dimes have gone to a reducing Amen Thompson, who has 15 factors and seven rebounds whereas making 7-of-8 pictures contained in the 3-point arc (87.5%).

The Rockets additionally did an exceptional job defensively within the third quarter, limiting New Orleans to simply 15 factors. After scoring 21 factors within the first half, Trey Murphy III had solely two factors within the third whereas being restricted to solely three shot makes an attempt (making one).

Dillon Brooks has supplied glorious protection on Zion Williamson, limiting the famous person ahead to 12 factors and 6 rebounds on 2-of-7 taking pictures (28.6%).

Houston gained the third quarter by a decisive 33-15 margin, and that is turned what was as soon as an 11-point Pelicans lead right into a 15-point Houston edge heading to the fourth.

Halftime: Pelicans 59, Rockets 56

After trailing by 10 factors late within the second quarter, Houston closed inside three after a 9-2 run within the ultimate two-and-a-half minutes.

With 10 turnovers within the half, the Rockets have struggled with ball safety as Alperen Sengun (3), Amen Thompson (3), and Jalen Inexperienced (2) have all had their share of lowlights. Reserve guard Jose Alvarado has made his presence felt for the Pelicans with a game-high 4 steals in solely 11 minutes.

Tari Eason has stored the Rockets aggressive with a team-high 14 factors and a couple of steals whereas making 4-of-6 from 3-point vary (66.7%). Sengun added 10 factors and 5 assists on 5-of-7 taking pictures (71.4%), whereas Thompson has 9 factors and a team-high 6 rebounds whereas making 4-of-7 pictures (57.1%).

New Orleans guard Trey Murphy III stays the sport’s excessive scorer with 21 factors, having made 7-of-10 pictures (70.0%), 2-of-4 from 3-point vary (50.0%), and 5-of-5 from the free-throw line.

Veteran Dillon Brooks has supplied glorious protection on Zion Williamson, limiting the famous person ahead to 10 factors and 6 rebounds on 2-of-7 taking pictures (28.6%).

After First Quarter: Pelicans 34, Rockets 31

Trey Murphy III (15 factors in 10 minutes) has had an exceptional begin for the Pelicans, making 6-of-7 pictures (85.7% FG) to start Thursday’s sport. That complete included a pair of 3-pointers from properly past the arc, which gave the Pelicans an early lead.

However the Rockets closed the hole to a possession by way of a 7-2 run to complete the quarter, and so they did that whereas using a uncommon jumbo lineup with two facilities in Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams; two forwards in Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason; and rookie Reed Sheppard because the lone guard.

Eason is Houston’s excessive scorer, posting 8 factors and a couple of assists in 9 minutes whereas making 2-of-3 pictures from 3-point vary (66.7%). Alperen Sengun has added 6 factors (60.0% FG) and three rebounds, although he is additionally turned the ball over 3 times in solely 9 minutes.

Tari Eason Begins Forward of Jabari Smith Jr.

In Tuesday’s loss at Indiana, Jabari Smith Jr. began at ahead and Tari Eason got here off the bench. On Thursday in New Orleans, these roles for Houston’s third-year forwards have been flipped.

Eason had a far superior outing, ending with 16 factors on 7-of-14 taking pictures (50.0%) and 2-of-4 from 3-point vary (50.0%). He additionally had 14 rebounds (8 offensive) and 4 assists in solely 26 minutes.

Smith had 12 factors and 9 rebounds in 37 minutes whereas taking pictures simply 4-of-11 from the sphere (36.4%). Smith did make 2-of-5 pictures from 3-point vary (40.0%), although nonetheless on diminished effectivity relative to Eason.

Every time VanVleet finally returns, each Smith and Eason will play off the bench (with Amen Thompson shifting to a beginning function at ahead). However for now, head coach Ime Udoka is working to search out one of the best match for the beginning lineup alongside a quartet of Thompson, Jalen Inexperienced, Dillon Brooks, and Alperen Sengun.

Scouting Report on Jalen Inexperienced: Defend Bodily

In two December wins over New Orleans, Rockets guard Jalen Inexperienced averaged 32 factors per sport whereas taking pictures roughly 58% from the sphere and 48% on 3-pointers.

Willie Inexperienced, head coach of the Pelicans, stated that Thursday’s message to the Pelicans was to defend Houston’s Inexperienced with extra physicality.

Inexperienced struggled in his final sport at Indiana, scoring simply 12 factors on 4-of-13 taking pictures (30.8%) and 2-of-7 from 3-point vary (28.6%) whereas committing 5 turnovers. He’d love to show issues round versus a New Orleans staff that, on paper, is a friendlier matchup. For the 2024-25 season, the Pelicans rank No. 29 amongst 30 NBA groups in defensive ranking.

However between a guard duo of 6-foot-3 CJ McCollum and 6-foot-8 Trey Murphy III, the Pelicans do have dimension and size within the backcourt, which might current some challenges for Inexperienced and the Rockets.

“We’d like extra playmaking out of him, particularly with Fred (VanVleet) out and different guys which have missed some video games,” Ime Udoka stated of Inexperienced throughout a Wednesday interview with flagship radio station SportsTalk 790 (The Matt Thomas Present with Ross).

Relating to the problem of Inexperienced’s turnovers, Udoka stated:

Udoka’s full SportsTalk 790 interview will be listened to right here.

Rockets View Zone Protection, Two-Heart Lineups as Situational

By way of Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka sayst his staff’s current selections to include extra zone protection and two-center lineups (that includes each Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams) shall be dictated by every sport’s matchups and opposing personnel.

Amen Thompson Impresses Pelicans

In feedback simply previous to tipoff, Pelicans head coach Willie Inexperienced confirmed clear respect to second-year Rockets prospect Amen Thompson (who began at level guard, in VanVleet’s absence).

“I feel you begin along with his protection,” Inexperienced stated of Thompson’s enchancment as a participant. “His capability to protect a number of positions, his capability to trigger havoc defensively for his or her group. He has an awesome knack for the ball. … He is a extremely good rebounder. He is huge and bodily, and so they’re taking part in him at level guard offensively, at occasions. He understands how one can play in that dunker space. … He is getting higher and higher.”

Every time VanVleet returns, Thompson will proceed to start out whereas shifting to a ahead function. In 31 complete video games as a starter, Thompson has averaged 16.3 factors (54.5% FG), 9.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 1.7 steals in 37.5 minutes per sport.

Sport and Broadcast Data

• Date: Thursday, March 6

• Time: 7:00 p.m. CT

• Location: Smoothie King Heart, New Orleans

• Channel: House Metropolis Residence Community

• Stream: Fubo TV (free trial), NBA League Go nationally

Group Rankings

Statistical rankings among the many NBA’s 30 groups, as of Thursday:

• New Orleans: No. 29 web ranking (-7.9), No. 25 offensive ranking (110.4), No. 29 defensive ranking (118.3)

• Houston: No. 7 web ranking (3.5), No. 15 offensive ranking (113.3), No. 4 defensive ranking (109.8)

Beginning Lineups

Rockets:

• Amen Thompson, No. 1, guard

• Jalen Inexperienced, No. 4, guard

• Dillon Brooks, No. 9, ahead

• Tari Eason, No. 17, ahead

• Alperen Sengun, No. 28, middle

Pelicans:

• CJ McCollum, No. 3, guard

• Trey Murphy III, No. 25, guard

• Zion Williamson, No. 1, ahead

• Kelly Olynyk, No. 13, ahead

• Yves Missi, No. 21, middle

Participant Absences

Rockets:

Pelicans:

• Herbert Jones, out, torn rotator cuff

• Dejounte Murray, out, proper Achilles rupture

• Brandon Boston, out, left ankle sprain

Houston’s David Roddy, N’Faly Dante, and Jack McVeigh are wholesome however unavailable whereas taking part in within the G League. The identical standing applies to Keion Brooks Jr., Lester Quinones, and Antonio Reeves with New Orleans.

Homestand on Deck

The Rockets will return to Houston to launch a season-long homestand of six straight video games inside Toyota Heart, the place Houston is 20-10 this season. The opener of that homestand is a rematch with the Pelicans on Saturday evening, with tipoff scheduled for six:00 p.m. Central.

Extra: As consecutive video games streak continues, Jalen Inexperienced credit his exercises with Kevin Durant

This text initially appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets finish street skid as Sengun flexes All-Star muscle in New Orleans