Game ID: 22400902
Houston Rockets @ New Orleans Pelicans
Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NOP 34 25 15 23 97HOU 31 25 33 20 109
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 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 20 since 1/10, not on tonight's roster
OUT Brooks Jr. missed 5 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 6 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 36 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 5 since 2/12, returns tonight: 10 min (73% of 14)
BACK Olynyk back 2/21 after 2, 24 min since (94% of 25)
NEW Alvarado 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT Brooks Jr. missed 6 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 7 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 37 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Olynyk back 2/21 after 2, 24 min since (94% of 25)
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 10 min since (73% of 14)
NEW Matković 19 to 24 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 7 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 8 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 38 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Olynyk back 2/21 after 2, 25 min since (97% of 25)
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 11 min since (81% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 8 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 9 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 39 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 11 min since (81% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 9 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 10 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 40 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Reeves missed 2 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 9 min since (64% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 10 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 11 since 2/10, not on tonight's roster
OUT Payton missed 41 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Reeves missed 3 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Cain back 2/27 after 5, 9 min since (64% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/09 · back-to-backOUT Brooks Jr. missed 11 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 42 since 12/05, out tonight
OUT Reeves missed 4 since 3/02, returns tonight: 22 min (147% of 15)
NOP availability going into 3/11 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 12 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 43 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Reeves back 3/09 after 4, 22 min since (147% of 15)
NOP availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks Jr. missed 13 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Payton missed 44 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Reeves back 3/09 after 4, 22 min since (147% of 15)
HOU availability going into 2/26 · back-to-backOUT VanVleet missed 10 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Adams missed 2 since 2/22, returns tonight: 19 min (128% of 15)
OUT Dante missed 58 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/21 after 22, 33 min since (115% of 29)
NEW Eason 24 to 31 min over the last 3
NEW Holiday 13 to 22 min over the last 4
NEW Jef. Green 12 to 19 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 3/01 · 2 days' restOUT VanVleet missed 11 since 2/03, returns tonight: 35 min (97% of 36)
OUT Dante missed 59 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/21 after 22, 33 min since (114% of 29)
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 19 min since (128% of 15)
NEW Holiday 13 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Jef. Green 12 to 19 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Dante missed 60 since 10/23, returns tonight: 19 min (146% of 13)
BACK VanVleet back 3/01 after 11, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/21 after 22, 31 min since (106% of 29)
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 13 min since (90% of 15)
NEW Jef. Green 12 to 18 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 3/04 · back-to-backBACK VanVleet back 3/01 after 11, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 13 min since (90% of 15)
BACK Dante back 3/03 after 60, 19 min since (146% of 13)
NEW Jef. Green 12 to 18 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 14 min since (95% of 15)
BACK Dante back 3/03 after 60, 19 min since (146% of 13)
NEW Sheppard 12 to 17 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 3 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 2 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 2 since 3/04, returns tonight: 6 min (51% of 12)
BACK Adams back 2/26 after 2, 15 min since (103% of 15)
NEW Thompson 32 to 37 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 4 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 3 since 3/04, out tonight
BACK Landale back 3/08 after 2, 6 min since (51% of 12)
NEW Thompson 32 to 38 min over the last 4
NEW Sheppard 12 to 19 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 5 since 3/03, returns tonight: 28 min (77% of 36)
OUT Dante missed 4 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Landale back 3/08 after 2, 4 min since (35% of 12)
HOU availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 2 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 5 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 3 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK VanVleet back 3/12 after 5, 28 min since (77% of 36)
BACK Landale back 3/08 after 2, 6 min since (49% of 12)
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 120, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; Williamson at 26 and Murphy III at 18 a game. Without Brooks Jr. (9 straight), Boston (10 straight), Payton (40 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 114, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Green at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without VanVleet (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and New Orleans minus-0 and the defense, Houston allowing 114 a night to New Orleans's 120. Call it New Orleans 115, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
2/27 @ PHX 124-116 — NOP notes
NOP won 124-116. NOP shot 48% (50 of 104) to PHX's 47%, 17 of 47 from three. Williamson led with 27 (13 of 17); McCollum added 19, Murphy III 18. The hinge was Q4, 36-25: NOP came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 8, and the lead reached 18. NOP trailed 61-62 at the half and won the second half 63-54. Hawkins was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
2/28 @ PHX 108-125 — NOP notes
NOP lost 108-125. NOP took 8 more shots (87 to 79), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 51% to PHX's 59%, 11 of 28 from three. Hawkins led with 24 (10 of 17, 3 of 7 from three); Missi added 24, Olynyk 11. Q4 was theirs, 38-33, the deficit cut from 22 to 17, but the other 3 periods went 92-70 against them. Murphy III's -19 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/02 @ UTA 128-121 — NOP notes
NOP won 128-121. NOP shot 52% (53 of 102) to UTA's 48%, 15 of 44 from three. Olynyk led with 26 (10 of 14, 3 of 4 from three); McCollum added 25, Williamson 24. The hinge was Q4, 37-30: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 18.
3/04 @ LAL 115-136 — NOP notes
NOP lost 115-136. NOP shot 49% (46 of 93) to LAL's 53%, 9 of 34 from three, and got to the line 21 times to LAL's 27. NOP turned it over 9 times to LAL's 14. The glass went 35-51 against them. Williamson led with 37 (17 of 23, 3 of 6 at the line); Murphy III added 19, Hawkins 17. Q2 was theirs, 36-33, the deficit cut from 13 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 103-79 against them. Murphy III's -29 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/06 vs HOU 97-109 — NOP notes
NOP lost 97-109. NOP shot 37% (31 of 83) to HOU's 57%, 9 of 27 from three, and went to the line 33 times to HOU's 18 — 26 points from the stripe to their 8. Murphy III led with 26 (9 of 15, 3 of 8 from three); Williamson added 20, McCollum 13. Q1 was theirs, 34-31, but the other 3 periods went 78-63 against them. They led by as many as 11. Williamson's -18 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/08 @ HOU — 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 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Green at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without VanVleet (3 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Williamson at 27 and Murphy III at 19 a game. Without Brooks Jr. (10 straight), Boston (11 straight), Payton (41 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and New Orleans minus-2 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 16 times a game to New Orleans's 11. Call it Houston 117, New Orleans 111.
3/09 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 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 127, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Murphy III at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Brooks Jr. (11 straight), Payton (42 straight), Reeves (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 29 from three, 21 free throws a game; Morant at 27 and Bane at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Jackson Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-11 a night and New Orleans minus-3 and the arc, New Orleans at 34 percent from three to Memphis's 29. Call it Memphis 122, New Orleans 116.
3/11 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 124, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Murphy III at 21 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Brooks Jr. (12 straight), Payton (43 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 109, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Harden at 28 and Leonard at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Powell (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 109 a night to New Orleans's 124. Call it the Clippers 115, New Orleans 112, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/13 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 124, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Williamson at 25 and Murphy III at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Brooks Jr. (13 straight), Payton (44 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 30 free throws a game; Banchero at 28 and Wagner at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Orlando wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 110 a night to New Orleans's 124 and the glass, where New Orleans has been minus-5 a night and Orlando minus-12. Call it Orlando 112, New Orleans 111, New Orleans keeping it close.
2/26 vs SAS 118-106 — HOU notes
HOU won 118-106. HOU shot 47% (48 of 102) to SAS's 42%, 11 of 38 from three, and got to the line 14 times to SAS's 21. HOU turned it over 14 times to SAS's 8, and SAS turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 60-41 for them. Thompson led with 25 (12 of 15, 1 of 3 from three); Ja. Green added 21, Brooks 19. The hinge was Q1, 34-20: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 28. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
3/01 vs SAC 103-113 — HOU notes
HOU lost 103-113. HOU shot 43% (37 of 86) to SAC's 51%, 13 of 35 from three. Sengun led with 30 (10 of 16, 10 of 17 at the line); Green added 24, Eason 14. Q2 was theirs, 38-38, but the other 3 periods went 75-65 against them. Brooks's -14 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/03 @ OKC 128-137 — HOU notes
HOU lost 128-137. HOU shot 49% (49 of 101) to OKC's 49%, 16 of 35 from three, and got to the line 17 times to OKC's 27. Whitmore led with 27 (10 of 19, 4 of 6 from three); Sheppard added 25, Ja. Green 18. Q4 was theirs, 39-35, the deficit cut from 13 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 102-89 against them. Sheppard's -12 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/04 @ IND 102-115 — HOU notes
HOU lost 102-115. HOU took 12 more shots (98 to 86), fed by 24 offensive rebounds, but shot 41% to IND's 51%, 9 of 30 from three, and went to the line 26 times to IND's 10 — 13 points from the stripe to their 10. The glass went 58-35 for them. Sengun led with 25 (12 of 19); Eason added 16, Thompson 13. Q3 was theirs, 26-23, the deficit cut from 10 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 92-76 against them. Green's -22 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/06 @ NOP 109-97 — HOU notes
HOU won 109-97. HOU shot 57% (46 of 81) to NOP's 37%, 9 of 29 from three, and got to the line 18 times to NOP's 33. Sengun led with 22 (11 of 14); Thompson added 21, Eason 20. The hinge was Q3, 33-15: HOU came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 15. HOU trailed 56-59 at the half and won the second half 53-38. Adams was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/08 vs NOP — 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 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Green at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without VanVleet (3 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Williamson at 27 and Murphy III at 19 a game. Without Brooks Jr. (10 straight), Boston (11 straight), Payton (41 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and New Orleans minus-2 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 16 times a game to New Orleans's 11. Call it Houston 117, New Orleans 111.
3/10 vs ORL — 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 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 24 and Brooks at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without VanVleet (4 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Banchero at 31 and Wagner at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-5 a night and Orlando minus-6 and the line, where Orlando takes 28 free throws a game to Houston's 21. Call it Houston 114, Orlando 110, Orlando keeping it close.
3/12 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 20 and Brooks at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without VanVleet (5 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 124, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Booker at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Ighodaro (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 110 a night to Phoenix's 124. Call it Houston 119, Phoenix 112.
3/14 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 103, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sengun at 20 and Brooks at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Thompson (2 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 128, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Marshall at 25 and Thompson at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Washington (6 straight), Davis (14 straight), Lively II (27 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and Dallas minus-13 and the defense, Houston allowing 103 a night to Dallas's 128. Call it Houston 118, Dallas 110.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NOPBB B. Brown
CM C. McCollum
JA J. Alvarado
JH J. Hawkins
KM K. Matković
KO K. Olynyk
TM T. Murphy III
YM Y. Missi
ZW Z. Williamson
HOUAS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
DB D. Brooks
JG J. Green
JS J. Smith Jr.
JG Ja. Green
RS R. Sheppard
SA S. Adams
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
Rockets take over after halftime in a 109-97 road victory over Pelicans
NEW ORLEANS -- — Amen Thompson had 21 points and 11 rebounds and the Houston Rockets had a dominating second half to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 109-97 on Thursday night to open a home-and-home set.
Alperen Sengun added 22 points, eight assists and three steals, and Tari Eason scored 21 points as the Rockets snapped a three-game losing streak. They had lost their last eight road games.
Trey Murphy III scored 26 points to lead the Pelicans. Zion Williamson had 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Thompson had 12 points in the second half, including a dunk to cap the Rockets' opening spurt right out of the break that put them ahead for the first time — and for the rest of the game. They later had a 12-0 run in the third quarter.
When Houston trailed by double figures in the first quarter, Thompson had a highlight two-handed slam . He went around rookie Yves Missi and made a double-clutch move to get the dunk.
Takeaways Rockets: Houston, currently the fifth seed in the Western Conference, is 11-3 against division foes this season.
Pelicans: Williamson was only 5-of-15 shooting from the field, but did hit 10 of 12 free throws.
Key moment The Rockets never led until a 9-1 run in the first two minutes of the second half, a quick spurt that Thompson capped with a dunk. They led the rest of the way, going ahead by as many as 17 points.
Key stat Thompson had eight dunks.
Up next The Rockets and Pelicans play again Saturday night, this time in Houston.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .