Game ID: 22300392
Houston Rockets @ New Orleans Pelicans
Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NOP 24 27 33 20 104HOU 26 21 32 27 106
HOU @ NOP ScoutingHOU @ NOP Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
NOP availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 7 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 12 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 31 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 8 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 13 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 32 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/19 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 9 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 14 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 30 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 10 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 15 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 32 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 11 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 16 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 31 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Nance Jr. missed 12 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 17 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 13 since 11/29, returns tonight: 25 min (125% of 20)
OUT Hawkins missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 18 since 11/20, out tonight
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/31 · 2 days' restOUT Hawkins missed 3 since 12/23, returns tonight: 8 min (48% of 17)
OUT Ryan missed 19 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 25 min since (125% of 20)
NEW Valančiūnas 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Ryan missed 20 since 11/20, out tonight
BACK Nance Jr. back 12/28 after 13, 24 min since (120% of 20)
BACK Hawkins back 12/31 after 3, 8 min since (48% of 17)
HOU availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 2 since 12/13, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 5 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Landale back 12/13 after 3, 9 min since (69% of 14)
HOU availability going into 12/18 · back-to-backOUT Thompson missed 3 since 12/13, out tonight
OUT Whitmore missed 6 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Landale back 12/13 after 3, 9 min since (69% of 14)
HOU availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 4 since 12/13, returns tonight: 8 min (38% of 22)
OUT Whitmore missed 7 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Landale back 12/13 after 3, 8 min since (56% of 14)
NEW Eason 22 to 28 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/22 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 8 since 12/06, returns tonight: 14 min (76% of 19)
BACK Thompson back 12/20 after 4, 8 min since (38% of 22)
BACK Landale back 12/13 after 3, 8 min since (56% of 14)
NEW Eason 22 to 28 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Eason missed 2 since 12/20, returns tonight: 20 min (94% of 22)
BACK Thompson back 12/20 after 4, 15 min since (67% of 22)
BACK Whitmore back 12/22 after 8, 14 min since (76% of 19)
HOU availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restBACK Thompson back 12/20 after 4, 14 min since (60% of 22)
BACK Eason back 12/23 after 2, 20 min since (94% of 22)
BACK Whitmore back 12/22 after 8, 14 min since (76% of 19)
HOU availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Whitmore missed 2 since 12/23, returns tonight: 18 min (95% of 19)
OUT Landale missed 2 since 12/23, returns tonight: 12 min (88% of 14)
BACK Thompson back 12/20 after 4, 13 min since (59% of 22)
BACK Eason back 12/23 after 2, 23 min since (106% of 22)
HOU availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restBACK Thompson back 12/20 after 4, 14 min since (62% of 22)
BACK Eason back 12/23 after 2, 24 min since (110% of 22)
BACK Whitmore back 12/22 after 8, 16 min since (86% of 19)
BACK Landale back 12/27 after 2, 12 min since (88% of 14)
HOU availability going into 1/01 · 2 days' restOUT Brooks missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
BACK Eason back 12/23 after 2, 25 min since (114% of 22)
BACK Whitmore back 12/22 after 8, 16 min since (86% of 19)
BACK Landale back 12/27 after 2, 10 min since (72% of 14)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 112, shooting 52 percent and 45 from three, 25 free throws a game; Ingram at 25 and McCollum at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Nance Jr. (11 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; VanVleet at 21 and Sengun at 19 a game. Without Eason (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 45 percent from three to Houston's 38 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-7 a night and Houston plus-1. Call it New Orleans 119, Houston 113.
12/15 @ CHA 112-107 — NOP notes
NOP won 112-107. NOP shot 48% (38 of 80) to CHA's 45%, 9 of 27 from three, and went to the line 32 times to CHA's 21 — 27 points from the stripe to their 16. NOP turned it over 15 times to CHA's 8. The glass went 49-39 for them. Valančiūnas led with 29 (11 of 16, 2 of 4 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Williamson added 21, McCollum 19. The hinge was Q2, 29-19: a lead of 1 became 11.
12/17 @ SAS 146-110 — NOP notes
NOP won 146-110. NOP shot 56% (55 of 98) to SAS's 43%, 22 of 42 from three. The glass went 51-39 for them. McCollum led with 29 (10 of 15, 6 of 7 from three); Ingram added 26, Alvarado 16. The hinge was Q3, 44-27: a lead of 10 became 27, and the lead reached 40. Marshall was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
12/19 vs MEM 113-115 — NOP notes
NOP lost 113-115. NOP shot 47% (40 of 85) to MEM's 50%, 11 of 25 from three. NOP turned it over 11 times to MEM's 17. Ingram led with 34 (11 of 18, 11 of 12 at the line); Valančiūnas added 22, McCollum 18. Q2 was theirs, 39-16, turning a 4-point deficit into a 19-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 99-74 against them. They led by as many as 24. Williamson's -13 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/21 @ CLE 123-104 — NOP notes
NOP won 123-104. NOP shot 55% (47 of 86) to CLE's 47%, 15 of 35 from three, and went to the line 16 times to CLE's 8 — 14 points from the stripe to their 5. Murphy III led with 28 (10 of 16, 6 of 10 from three); McCollum added 18, Ingram 17. The hinge was Q1, 36-28: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 24. Robinson-Earl was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/23 vs HOU 104-106 — NOP notes
NOP lost 104-106. NOP shot 46% (38 of 82) to HOU's 43%, 8 of 31 from three, and got to the line 29 times to HOU's 35. NOP turned it over 16 times to HOU's 11, and HOU turned those into 9 steals. Williamson led with 28 (11 of 16, 5 of 10 at the line); Ingram added 19, Murphy III 14. Q2 was theirs, 27-21, turning a 2-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 85-77 against them. Jones's -13 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/26 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 108, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 25 free throws a game; Ingram at 21 and McCollum at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Nance Jr. (12 straight). 2 days' rest. Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Morant at 28 and Bane at 27 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Smart (17 straight), Jackson (3 straight), Kennard (17 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 41 percent from three to Memphis's 35 and the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 17 times a game to New Orleans's 13. Call it New Orleans 116, Memphis 108.
12/28 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Ingram at 24 and Williamson at 20 a game. Without Nance Jr. (13 straight), Hawkins (2 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Markkanen at 27 and Sexton at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Horton-Tucker (3 straight), Juzang (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it New Orleans 119, Utah 114.
12/31 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 109, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Ingram at 24 and Williamson at 21 a game. Without Hawkins (3 straight). 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 23 free throws a game; Davis at 31 and James at 25 a game. Without Vincent (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 43 percent from three to New Orleans's 36 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 109 a night to the Lakers' 117. Call it New Orleans 117, the Lakers 112.
1/02 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Williamson at 24 and Ingram at 22 a game. One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 32 free throws a game; Bridges at 19 and Cam. Johnson at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Simmons (26 straight), Walker IV (15 straight), Clowney (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 108 a night to Brooklyn's 121 and the arc, New Orleans at 38 percent from three to Brooklyn's 31. Call it New Orleans 119, Brooklyn 112.
12/17 @ MIL 119-128 — HOU notes
HOU lost 119-128. HOU shot 53% (45 of 85) to MIL's 50%, 11 of 27 from three, and got to the line 21 times to MIL's 32. HOU turned it over 9 times to MIL's 15. The glass went 31-46 against them. VanVleet led with 22 (8 of 16, 4 of 8 from three); Sengun added 20, Brooks 18. Q3 was theirs, 31-29, the deficit cut from 11 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 99-88 against them. Brooks's -15 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/18 @ CLE 130-135 — HOU notes
HOU lost 130-135 in 1 overtime. HOU shot 46% (47 of 102) to CLE's 48%, 12 of 33 from three, and got to the line 27 times to CLE's 34. VanVleet led with 27 (9 of 19, 4 of 8 from three); Sengun added 24, Brooks 16. Q1 was theirs, 34-33, but the other 4 periods went 102-96 against them. Smith Jr.'s -17 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/20 vs ATL 127-134 — HOU notes
HOU lost 127-134. HOU shot 49% (44 of 89) to ATL's 52%, 16 of 34 from three. Smith Jr. led with 34 (8 of 14, 4 of 7 from three, 14 of 14 at the line); VanVleet added 32, Brooks 19. Q3 was theirs, 35-21, turning a 12-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 113-92 against them.
12/22 vs DAL 122-96 — HOU notes
HOU won 122-96. HOU shot 48% (46 of 95) to DAL's 35%, 11 of 38 from three. HOU turned it over 16 times to DAL's 11, and DAL turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 63-47 for them. Sengun led with 22 (8 of 12); Smith Jr. added 21, Ja. Green 17. The hinge was Q3, 33-21: a lead of 17 became 29, and the lead reached 38. Smith Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +37.
12/23 @ NOP 106-104 — HOU notes
HOU won 106-104. HOU shot 43% (35 of 82) to NOP's 46%, 9 of 29 from three, and went to the line 35 times to NOP's 29 — 27 points from the stripe to their 20. HOU turned it over 11 times to NOP's 16. Sengun led with 37 (11 of 21, 14 of 17 at the line); Smith Jr. added 26, VanVleet 10. The hinge was Q4, 27-20: HOU came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 2. HOU trailed 47-51 at the half and won the second half 59-53. Brooks was the night's best plus/minus at +6.
12/26 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Sengun at 23 and Smith Jr. at 20 a game. 2 days' rest. Indiana comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 125, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Haliburton at 18 and Turner at 17 a game. Without Sheppard (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 26 free throws a game to Indiana's 18. Call it Houston 122, Indiana 117.
12/27 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Sengun at 25 and VanVleet at 19 a game. Without Whitmore (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 28 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Booker at 25 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Beal (4 straight), Nurkić (2 straight), Bates-Diop (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 34 percent from three to Phoenix's 28. Call it Houston 117, Phoenix 113, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/29 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Sengun at 25 and Smith Jr. at 20 a game. One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Embiid at 41 and Maxey at 26 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Embiid (2 straight), Batum (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Philadelphia allowing 109 a night to Houston's 117 and the glass, where Houston has been minus-1 a night and Philadelphia minus-5. Call it Philadelphia 115, Houston 113, Houston keeping it close.
1/01 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Sengun at 28 and Ja. Green at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Brooks (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Detroit comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Cunningham at 30 and Ivey at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Stewart (2 straight), Sasser (2 straight), Bagley III (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 117 a night to Detroit's 124. Call it Houston 120, Detroit 112.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NOPBI B. Ingram
CM C. McCollum
DD D. Daniels
HJ H. Jones
JA J. Alvarado
JR J. Robinson-Earl
JV J. Valančiūnas
NM N. Marshall
TM T. Murphy III
VA Valanciunas
ZW Z. Williamson
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
JG Je. Green
TE T. Eason
NOP/HOU the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Alperen Sengun has career-high 37 points, Rockets beat Pelicans 106-104
NEW ORLEANS -- — Houston center Alperen Sengun figured out a way to make his matchup with New Orleans veteran Jonas Valanciunas look more like a mismatch.
Sengun scored a career-high 37 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to help the Rockets edge the Pelicans 106-104 on Saturday night.
While Sengun complimented Valanciunas' strength, he added, "I’m not that strong, but I’m fast, and he’s not fast like me, so we were just attacking him.
"He got in foul trouble and that wasn’t good for them,” Sengun added.
Valanciunas had 10 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out with 4:06 left while trying to stop one of Sengun's drives down the lane.
Jabari Smith Jr. added 26 points and 11 rebounds, and Fred VanVleet had 10 points for the Rockets, whose physical defensive play and willingness to get back in transition frustrated the Pelicans throughout. Houston had an 11-0 edge in fast-break points.
It was the second time in three games that Smith — a second-year pro out of Auburn — has scored at least 26 points. He had a career-high 34 in a loss to Atlanta on Wednesday night.
“You can tell he’s very confident getting to his spots using his size and length to rise up over guys,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “It’s only a matter of time that he gets to this level and does it on a consistent basis.”
Zion Williamson scored 28 points for New Orleans on mostly power moves near the basket. Brandon Ingram added 19 points and Trey Murphy 14 for the Pelicans, who turned it over twice in the final two minutes and missed nine free throws in the game — with Williamson missing five.
“We’ve got to stop turning the ball over and we’ve got to make free throws,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “It comes down to executing with force, with patience ... and getting a quality look every time down the floor.”
New Orleans also missed 23 of 31 3-point attempts in just its second loss in seven games.
No team led by more than seven points the entire game.
The Pelicans led by six early in the fourth quarter. But with a lineup of reserves, Houston went on a 9-0 run against New Orleans' starters — fueled by Aaron Holiday 's 3, former LSU star Tari Eason 's runner and Jae'Sean Tate 's hook.
“They definitely played more physical than us tonight,” Williamson said. “If the whole team do it, the ref ain’t going to call the foul on everybody. They collectively do it consistently. So, tonight, they were the tougher team.”
The game was tight after that and Sengun scored nine in the final four minutes to help Houston close it out.
It was the young Turk's third game with at least 30 points in just his second NBA season, and the he expects more to come.
“I'm just like 21. So, I have a lot to go,” Sengun said. “I'm going to give my best every day on the court, fight, help my teammates, you know. If it's my day, it's my day.”
The teams played a tight, physical first half which included a brief scuffle after Jose Alvarado tried to steal the ball from Smith.
After Alvarado was whistled for a reach-in, Smith mockingly tried to hand the ball to the Pelicans guard, who shoved him away. Naji Marshall quickly stepped in to aid his Pelicans teammate.
Technical fouls were issued to Alvarado, Smith and Marshall, the result being one technical free throw for Houston, which Holiday made.
Williamson scored 18 of his points in the first half on 7-of-8 shooting, including a rare 3-pointer when Houston left him so open it was as if they were daring him to try it.
Consecutive driving layups by Williamson ignited a 9-2 run to close the second quarter and give New Orleans a 51-47 lead at halftime.