Game ID: 22500604
New Orleans Pelicans @ Houston Rockets
Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 32 32 23 32 119NOP 30 24 26 30 110
HOU vs NOP ScoutingHOU vs 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.
HOU availability going into 1/11 · 1 day's restOUT Sengun missed 3 since 1/05, returns tonight: 35 min (105% of 34)
BACK Adams back 1/05 after 2, 31 min since (138% of 23)
HOU availability going into 1/13 · 1 day's restBACK Sengun back 1/11 after 3, 35 min since (105% of 34)
BACK Adams back 1/05 after 2, 29 min since (129% of 23)
HOU availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 2 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 1/11 after 3, 36 min since (106% of 34)
BACK Adams back 1/05 after 2, 27 min since (119% of 23)
HOU availability going into 1/16 · back-to-backOUT Eason missed 3 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 2 since 1/13, returns tonight: 16 min (99% of 16)
BACK Sengun back 1/11 after 3, 35 min since (103% of 34)
HOU availability going into 1/18 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 4 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 1/11 after 3, 34 min since (101% of 34)
BACK Finney-Smith back 1/16 after 2, 16 min since (99% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 5 since 1/11, returns tonight: 20 min (75% of 26)
OUT Holiday missed 2 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 1/11 after 3, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Finney-Smith back 1/16 after 2, 16 min since (98% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 3 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Eason back 1/20 after 5, 20 min since (75% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 1/16 after 2, 16 min since (96% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/23 · back-to-backOUT Holiday missed 4 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Eason back 1/20 after 5, 24 min since (91% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 1/16 after 2, 15 min since (95% of 16)
HOU availability going into 1/26 · 2 days' restOUT Holiday missed 5 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Eason back 1/20 after 5, 24 min since (91% of 26)
BACK Finney-Smith back 1/16 after 2, 15 min since (95% of 16)
NEW Okogie 17 to 25 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 1/11 · 1 day's restOUT Bey missed 5 since 1/02, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 2 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 10 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 2 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 36 since 10/31, out tonight
BACK McGowens back 1/02 after 2, 26 min since (125% of 21)
BACK Matković back 1/02 after 3, 15 min since (99% of 15)
BACK Looney back 1/07 after 2, 5 min since (34% of 15)
BACK Alexander back 1/04 after 13, 2 min since (17% of 12)
NEW Peavy 15 to 22 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 1/13 · 1 day's restOUT Bey missed 6 since 1/02, returns tonight: 32 min (102% of 31)
OUT Jones missed 3 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 11 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 3 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 37 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 2 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Alexander back 1/04 after 13, 2 min since (17% of 12)
NEW McGowens 21 to 27 min over the last 4
NEW Peavy 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 1/14 · back-to-backOUT Jones missed 4 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 12 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 4 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 38 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 3 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 2 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Bey back 1/13 after 6, 32 min since (102% of 31)
NEW McGowens 21 to 31 min over the last 3
NEW Peavy 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 5 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 13 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 5 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 39 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 4 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 3 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Bey back 1/13 after 6, 29 min since (93% of 31)
NEW McGowens 21 to 27 min over the last 4
NEW Peavy 15 to 22 min over the last 4
NOP availability going into 1/18 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 6 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 14 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 6 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 40 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Peavy missed 2 since 1/14, returns tonight: 22 min (147% of 15)
OUT Looney missed 5 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 4 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Bey back 1/13 after 6, 30 min since (96% of 31)
NOP availability going into 1/21 · 2 days' restOUT Jones missed 7 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Murray missed 15 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 7 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 41 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 6 since 1/09, returns tonight: 10 min (69% of 15)
OUT Alexander missed 5 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Bey back 1/13 after 6, 30 min since (95% of 31)
BACK Peavy back 1/18 after 2, 22 min since (147% of 15)
NOP availability going into 1/23 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 8 since 1/07, returns tonight: 25 min (87% of 28)
OUT Murray missed 16 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 8 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 42 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 6 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Bey back 1/13 after 6, 30 min since (95% of 31)
BACK Peavy back 1/18 after 2, 24 min since (162% of 15)
BACK Looney back 1/21 after 6, 10 min since (69% of 15)
NEW Missi 20 to 26 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 1/25 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 17 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Alvarado missed 9 since 1/07, returns tonight: 13 min (60% of 22)
OUT Jordan missed 43 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 2 since 1/21, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 7 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Jones back 1/23 after 8, 25 min since (87% of 28)
BACK Peavy back 1/18 after 2, 21 min since (143% of 15)
BACK Looney back 1/21 after 6, 10 min since (69% of 15)
NEW Missi 20 to 26 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 18 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT McGowens missed 2 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 44 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 2 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 3 since 1/21, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 8 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Jones back 1/23 after 8, 27 min since (93% of 28)
BACK Alvarado back 1/25 after 9, 13 min since (60% of 22)
BACK Peavy back 1/18 after 2, 21 min since (138% of 15)
NEW Missi 20 to 26 min over the last 5
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 105 a night and allowing 110, shooting 43 percent and 29 from three, 27 free throws a game; Durant at 28 and Thompson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Eason (4 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murphy III at 29 and Williamson at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Jones (6 straight), Murray (14 straight), Alvarado (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, New Orleans at 39 percent from three to Houston's 29 and the defense, Houston allowing 110 a night to New Orleans's 119. Call it Houston 117, New Orleans 113, New Orleans keeping it close.
1/11 @ SAC 98-111 — HOU notes
HOU lost 98-111. HOU shot 43% (36 of 84) to SAC's 48%, 7 of 30 from three, and went to the line 29 times to SAC's 20 — 19 points from the stripe to their 15. Thompson led with 31 (11 of 17, 9 of 12 at the line); Durant added 23, Sengun 19. Q1 was theirs, 23-22, but the other 3 periods went 89-75 against them. Holiday's -19 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/13 vs CHI 119-113 — HOU notes
HOU won 119-113. HOU shot 51% (45 of 88) to CHI's 44%, 7 of 24 from three, and went to the line 29 times to CHI's 23 — 22 points from the stripe to their 19. The glass went 50-40 for them. Durant led with 28 (12 of 23, 1 of 5 from three); Thompson added 23, Sengun 23. The hinge was Q1, 29-24: from level to 5 ahead. HOU trailed 57-60 at the half and won the second half 62-53. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
1/15 vs OKC 91-111 — HOU notes
HOU lost 91-111. HOU took 15 more shots (104 to 89), fed by 23 offensive rebounds, but shot 34% to OKC's 46%, 7 of 24 from three. The glass went 60-44 for them. Durant led with 19 (7 of 23, 0 of 5 from three); Smith Jr. added 17, Sengun 14. Q3 was theirs, 27-22, the deficit cut from 7 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 89-64 against them. Durant's -20 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/16 vs MIN 110-105 — HOU notes
HOU won 110-105. HOU shot 46% (39 of 84) to MIN's 46%, 12 of 28 from three. Durant led with 39 (11 of 18, 6 of 8 from three, 11 of 14 at the line); Sengun added 25, Thompson 14. The hinge was Q4, 29-23: HOU came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 5. HOU trailed 53-55 at the half and won the second half 57-50. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/18 vs NOP 119-110 — HOU notes
HOU won 119-110. HOU shot 50% (45 of 90) to NOP's 50%, 13 of 36 from three, and went to the line 22 times to NOP's 15 — 16 points from the stripe to their 12. Smith Jr. led with 32 (11 of 21, 7 of 13 from three); Sengun added 21, Thompson 20. The hinge was Q2, 32-24: a lead of 2 became 10, and the lead reached 19.
1/20 vs SAS — 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 107 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; Durant at 25 and Sengun at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Eason (5 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 28 and Fox at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Vassell (11 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, San Antonio at 39 percent from three to Houston's 32 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and San Antonio plus-2. Call it Houston 114, San Antonio 111, San Antonio keeping it close.
1/22 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Embiid at 28 and Maxey at 24 a game. Without George (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 24 and Sengun at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and Philadelphia minus-3. Call it Philadelphia 114, Houston 113, Houston keeping it close.
1/23 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 98, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Duren at 17 and Robinson at 17 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Sengun at 19 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the defense, Detroit allowing 98 a night to Houston's 112 and the arc, Houston at 39 percent from three to Detroit's 34. Call it Detroit 114, Houston 107.
1/26 vs MEM — 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 115 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Sengun at 20 a game. 2 days' rest. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 20 and Coward at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Aldama (2 straight), Mashack (4 straight), Pippen Jr. (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 39 percent from three to Memphis's 35 and the defense, Houston allowing 111 a night to Memphis's 118. Call it Houston 118, Memphis 111.
1/11 @ ORL 118-128 — NOP notes
NOP lost 118-128. NOP shot 58% (46 of 80) to ORL's 52%, 14 of 26 from three, and got to the line 15 times to ORL's 35. The glass went 26-39 against them. Williamson led with 22 (9 of 14); Murphy III added 21, Poole 21. Q3 was theirs, 39-33, but the other 3 periods went 95-79 against them. They led by as many as 11. McGowens's -22 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/13 vs DEN 116-122 — NOP notes
NOP lost 116-122. NOP shot 45% (39 of 86) to DEN's 49%, 11 of 29 from three. NOP turned it over 15 times to DEN's 7, and DEN turned those into 8 steals. The glass went 51-32 for them. Murphy III led with 31 (11 of 18, 4 of 8 from three); Bey added 17, Poole 16. Q2 was theirs, 34-28, turning a 1-point deficit into a 5-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 94-82 against them. They led by as many as 11. Peavy's -9 in 12 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/14 vs BKN 116-113 — NOP notes
NOP won 116-113. NOP shot 44% (43 of 97) to BKN's 47%, 11 of 33 from three, and went to the line 25 times to BKN's 12 — 19 points from the stripe to their 7. The glass went 53-43 for them. Murphy III led with 34 (12 of 22, 5 of 13 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Williamson added 25, Missi 12. The hinge was Q2, 27-24: the deficit went from 4 to 1. NOP trailed 54-55 at the half and won the second half 62-58. Missi was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
1/16 @ IND 119-127 — NOP notes
NOP lost 119-127. NOP shot 50% (41 of 82) to IND's 51%, 13 of 31 from three, and went to the line 30 times to IND's 12 — 24 points from the stripe to their 8. Williamson led with 27 (10 of 12, 7 of 10 at the line); Murphy III added 22, Bey 20. Q1 was theirs, 33-31, but the other 3 periods went 96-86 against them. Poole's -14 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/18 @ HOU 110-119 — NOP notes
NOP lost 110-119. NOP shot 50% (44 of 88) to HOU's 50%, 10 of 26 from three, and got to the line 15 times to HOU's 22. Murphy III led with 21 (7 of 15, 3 of 8 from three); Williamson added 20, Queen 15. Q3 was theirs, 26-23, the deficit cut from 10 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 96-84 against them. Queen's -33 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/21 vs DET — 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 116 a night and allowing 122, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murphy III at 26 and Williamson at 21 a game. Without Jones (7 straight), Murray (15 straight), Alvarado (7 straight). 2 days' rest. Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 95, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Robinson at 16 and Duren at 16 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Detroit allowing 95 a night to New Orleans's 122 and the arc, New Orleans at 41 percent from three to Detroit's 33. Call it Detroit 116, New Orleans 110.
1/23 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 19 and Coward at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Mashack (3 straight), Small (3 straight), Prosper (3 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Murphy III at 25 and Williamson at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Jones (8 straight), Murray (16 straight), Alvarado (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 17 times a game to New Orleans's 12 and the line, where New Orleans takes 26 free throws a game to Memphis's 20. Call it Memphis 117, New Orleans 113, New Orleans keeping it close.
1/25 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 27 and Fox at 20 a game. Without Vassell (13 straight). 2 days' rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 120, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Murphy III at 25 and Williamson at 20 a game. Without Murray (17 straight), Alvarado (9 straight), Jordan (43 straight). One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the defense, San Antonio allowing 111 a night to New Orleans's 120 and the arc, San Antonio at 38 percent from three to New Orleans's 34. Call it San Antonio 121, New Orleans 113.
1/27 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 110, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 36 and Holmgren at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Jal. Williams (4 straight), Mitchell (2 straight), Hartenstein (15 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Bey at 22 and Murphy III at 22 a game. Without Murray (18 straight), McGowens (2 straight), Jordan (44 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-1 a night and OKC minus-8 and the arc, OKC at 38 percent from three to New Orleans's 33. Call it OKC 121, New Orleans 110, OKC by 11.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
HOUAS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
DF D. Finney-Smith
JD J. Davison
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
SA S. Adams
NOPDQ D. Queen
JF J. Fears
JH J. Hawkins
JP J. Poole
KM K. Matković
MP M. Peavy
SB S. Bey
TM T. Murphy III
YM Y. Missi
ZW Z. Williamson
HOU/NOP 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
Durant passes Nowitzki for 6th place on NBA career scoring list as Rockets beat Pelicans 119-110
HOUSTON -- — Kevin Durant had 18 points and moved into sixth place on the NBA's career points list, and Jabari Smith Jr. scored a season-high 32 points as the Houston Rockets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 119-110 Sunday night.
Alperen Sengun had 21 points and eight rebounds and Amen Thompson finished with 20 points as Houston won for the third time in four games.
Trey Murphy III scored 21 points on 7-for-15 shooting and Zion Williamson had 20 points and six rebounds. Derik Queen finished with 15 points for the Pelicans, who lost for the fourth time in five games and 13th time in 15 games.
With 15.2 seconds left in the game, Durant stepped to the free throw line needing one point to pass Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki (31,560 points) on the NBA's scoring list. The 15-time All-Star made two free throws and received a standing ovation from the home crowd. Durant now has 31,562 career points. Michael Jordan is fifth on the list at 32,292.
When the game was over, a special video message was played on the jumbotron with Dirk Nowitzki congratulating Durant .
Smith, who had 22 points in the first half, bounced back from a 3-for-12 shooting performance in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Against the Pelicans, he shot 11 for 21 and had a career-high seven 3-pointers.
Houston's Steven Adams had to be helped off the court in the fourth quarter with an apparent left ankle injury. Adams, who missed a few games earlier this season with a right ankle injury, had 10 rebounds and five points before leaving the game with just under 10 minutes left in the final quarter.
Up next Pelicans: Host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.