Houston Rockets Manage to Take Down New Orleans Pelicans, 117-109

In a spectacular matchup in Houston tonight, the Rockets outplayed the New Orleans Pelicans after a massive battle, 117-109.

The hosts managed to take down the guests from the Big Easy in the last period, by limiting them to 16 points, which ridiculous once having in mind that they had 93 in three prior to this one. Plus, they once again had superb James Harden.

“We did a solid job throughout the entire game,” said Harden who emphasized the control of the glass as the key to winning this one. “Rebounds got us the game.”

NOP didn’t hit a single three-pointer in that sequence, and that might have been the key reason why they lost this one. Up until that point, Alvin Gentry’s side dropped 10 long-distance hits, but overall in the last 12 minutes, they had just five field goals made in 20 attempts.

There is one other thing. The Rockets had 8 turnovers, compared to 23 of the guests, and that is something which needs to be also mentioned.

In a match which was bound to be one of the most entertaining this season, both sides were playing superbly. The fans witnessed fireworks of attractive moves on both sides, but we need to mention Zion Williamson, who was in the middle of attention.

He and Lonzo Ball delivered several alley-oop dunks, which stunned the spectators at the Toyota Center. But not just that, the No.1 pick had other moves that amazed the crowd. For example, him blocking Russell Westbrook was possibly the highlight of the contest.

“He’s really good, very, very explosive, and athletic,” Harden stated about the Pelicans’ teenager.

Zion recovers to protect the paint for New Orleans. @PelicansNBA 75@HoustonRockets 77

📺: #NBAonABC pic.twitter.com/dzQQWkfNiC

— NBA (@NBA) February 2, 2020

Williamson had a double-double with 21 points, and 10 boards, shooting 8-for-14 from the field. He wasn’t exploited properly at some parts of the game, and Alvin Gentry spoke about that at the press.

“Zion can’t go 4 mins without touching the ball ever again. That’s on me. … And if we can’t get it to him, then we need other people in the game. That’s on me too.”

Brandon Ingram had a team-high for the guests, 28 buckets with 11 rebounds, and five threes. Ball was one assist short of a triple-double with 10 buckets, 11 boards, and 9 dimes.

Houston overturned the flow of the game in the fourth, tightening up the defense, which wasn’t present up to that point, to be honest. Also, the hosts had the Beard in his full-speed mode tonight.

The former MVP dropped 40 points, had 10 rebounds and 9 dishes, hitting seven threes and being unstoppable for the Pelicans’ defense.

https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1224083442146648065

He had huge help from Westbrook who posted 22 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds, while Danuel House Jr ended the night with 12 points and boards each.

“He had a couple of rebounds over the top of people, that’s why I got to have that athleticism,” D’Antoni praised House.

However, the X-factor for the Rockets happened to be Ben McLemore with 22 points off the bench, and interestingly without a single, board, assists, block, or turnover. He only had two steals.

Houston plays against the Charlotte Hornets at home next Tuesday. After that, D’Antoni’s crew heads for Los Angeles to meet the leaders of the Western Conference, Lakers. That clash is scheduled for Thursday. Already the next night, the Rockets face Suns in Phoenix.

Pelicans have the toughest possible opponent in the next match – Milwaukee Bucks. The league-leading team comes to the Big Easy on Tuesday. Following that, NOP heads for Chicago and Indiana to play back-to-back games on Thursday and Friday.