Game ID: 22500964
New Orleans Pelicans @ Houston Rockets
Friday, March 13, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 28 29 23 27 107NOP 24 25 23 33 105
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 3/06 · back-to-backBACK Smith Jr. back 3/05 after 2, 42 min since (119% of 36)
NEW Sheppard 27 to 36 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restBACK Smith Jr. back 3/05 after 2, 42 min since (119% of 36)
NEW Sheppard 27 to 36 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restBACK Smith Jr. back 3/05 after 2, 36 min since (103% of 36)
NEW Sheppard 27 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Finney-Smith 16 to 22 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/11 · back-to-backBACK Smith Jr. back 3/05 after 2, 36 min since (101% of 36)
NEW Sheppard 27 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Finney-Smith 16 to 24 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restBACK Smith Jr. back 3/05 after 2, 34 min since (96% of 36)
NEW Sheppard 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Finney-Smith 16 to 22 min over the last 3
NEW Capela 12 to 17 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/16 · 2 days' restNEW Finney-Smith 16 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Capela 12 to 19 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Sengun missed 2 since 3/13, returns tonight: 37 min (110% of 34)
OUT Holiday missed 2 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Newton missed 2 since 3/13, out tonight
NEW Finney-Smith 16 to 23 min over the last 4
NEW Capela 12 to 20 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 3 since 3/13, returns tonight: 16 min (120% of 14)
OUT Newton missed 3 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 37 min since (110% of 34)
NEW Capela 12 to 18 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 3/21 · back-to-backOUT Newton missed 4 since 3/13, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 3/18 after 2, 34 min since (102% of 34)
BACK Holiday back 3/20 after 3, 16 min since (120% of 14)
NEW Capela 12 to 18 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Poole missed 2 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 7 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 23 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 3/01 after 5, 32 min since (90% of 36)
BACK Murray back 2/24 after 28, 25 min since (90% of 28)
BACK Missi back 2/28 after 5, 13 min since (64% of 20)
BACK Peavy back 2/28 after 5, 3 min since (18% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 2/28 after 2, 3 min since (20% of 14)
NEW Matković 15 to 21 min over the last 4
NOP availability going into 3/06 · back-to-backOUT Poole missed 3 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 8 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 24 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 3/01 after 5, 32 min since (90% of 36)
BACK Missi back 2/28 after 5, 13 min since (68% of 20)
BACK Peavy back 2/28 after 5, 2 min since (14% of 15)
NEW McGowens 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Matković 15 to 22 min over the last 4
NOP availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Poole missed 4 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 3/05, returns tonight: 19 min (117% of 17)
OUT Looney missed 9 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 3 since 3/03, returns tonight: 4 min (31% of 14)
OUT Alexander missed 25 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 3/01 after 5, 34 min since (96% of 36)
BACK Missi back 2/28 after 5, 14 min since (71% of 20)
BACK Peavy back 2/28 after 5, 2 min since (14% of 15)
NOP availability going into 3/11 · 2 days' restOUT Poole missed 5 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 10 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 26 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 3/01 after 5, 33 min since (93% of 36)
BACK Jordan back 3/08 after 2, 19 min since (117% of 17)
BACK Hawkins back 3/08 after 3, 4 min since (31% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restOUT Poole missed 6 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 11 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 27 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/08 after 2, 16 min since (98% of 17)
BACK Hawkins back 3/08 after 3, 3 min since (21% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/16 · 2 days' restOUT Poole missed 7 since 3/01, returns tonight: 18 min (76% of 24)
OUT McGowens missed 2 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 12 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 28 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/08 after 2, 16 min since (98% of 17)
BACK Hawkins back 3/08 after 3, 3 min since (21% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT McGowens missed 3 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 13 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 29 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Poole back 3/16 after 7, 18 min since (76% of 24)
BACK Hawkins back 3/08 after 3, 2 min since (18% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/19 · back-to-backOUT McGowens missed 4 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 3 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 14 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 30 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Poole back 3/16 after 7, 18 min since (76% of 24)
BACK Hawkins back 3/08 after 3, 2 min since (18% of 14)
NOP availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT McGowens missed 5 since 3/11, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 4 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Peavy missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 15 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 31 since 1/11, out tonight
BACK Poole back 3/16 after 7, 18 min since (74% of 24)
NEW Matković 15 to 21 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 109 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 21 and Thompson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 31 free throws a game; Murphy III at 23 and Williamson at 21 a game. Without Poole (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the line, where New Orleans takes 31 free throws a game to Houston's 23 and the arc, New Orleans at 36 percent from three to Houston's 30. Call it Houston 116, New Orleans 115, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/06 vs POR 106-99 — HOU notes
HOU won 106-99. HOU shot 54% (41 of 76) to POR's 40%, 5 of 19 from three, and got to the line 26 times to POR's 37. HOU turned it over 22 times to POR's 14, and POR turned those into 17 steals. Sengun led with 28 (11 of 15, 5 of 8 at the line); Thompson added 26, Durant 20. The hinge was Q4, 29-17: HOU came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 7.
3/08 @ SAS 120-145 — HOU notes
HOU lost 120-145. HOU shot 48% (42 of 87) to SAS's 58%, 8 of 28 from three. HOU turned it over 12 times to SAS's 7. Thompson led with 23 (8 of 15, 7 of 8 at the line); Durant added 23, Sheppard 17. Q1 was theirs, 33-32, but the other 3 periods went 113-87 against them. Sengun's -28 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/10 vs TOR 113-99 — HOU notes
HOU won 113-99. HOU shot 50% (41 of 82) to TOR's 44%, 10 of 24 from three. The glass went 52-30 for them. Durant led with 29 (12 of 16, 4 of 5 from three); Thompson added 23, Smith Jr. 23. The hinge was Q4, 27-16: a lead of 3 became 14, and the lead reached 20. Eason was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/11 @ DEN 93-129 — HOU notes
HOU lost 93-129. HOU took 10 more shots (97 to 87), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to DEN's 55%, 4 of 33 from three, and got to the line 14 times to DEN's 22. HOU turned it over 15 times to DEN's 9, and DEN turned those into 12 steals. Thompson led with 16 (8 of 14); Okogie added 12, Smith Jr. 11. Q2 was theirs, 27-29, but the other 3 periods went 100-66 against them. Sheppard's -26 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/13 vs NOP 107-105 — HOU notes
HOU won 107-105. HOU shot 43% (40 of 94) to NOP's 44%, 14 of 41 from three, and got to the line 17 times to NOP's 26. Durant led with 32 (13 of 24, 3 of 7 from three); Thompson added 23, Sheppard 18. The hinge was Q1, 28-24: from level to 4 ahead.
3/16 vs LAL — 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 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 28 from three, 23 free throws a game; Durant at 23 and Thompson at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Dončić at 38 and Reaves at 27 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 38 percent from three to Houston's 28 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 16 times a game to the Lakers' 11. Call it the Lakers 116, Houston 114, Houston keeping it close.
3/18 vs LAL — 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 116, shooting 46 percent and 27 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 23 and Thompson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Sengun (2 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Dončić at 37 and Reaves at 27 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Vanderbilt (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-9 a night and the Lakers minus-2 and the arc, the Lakers at 34 percent from three to Houston's 27. Call it the Lakers 114, Houston 112, Houston keeping it close.
3/20 vs ATL — 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 104 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 28 from three, 18 free throws a game; Durant at 22 and Thompson at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Alexander-Walker at 26 and Johnson at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 37 percent from three to Houston's 28 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 15 times a game to Atlanta's 11. Call it Atlanta 114, Houston 112, Houston keeping it close.
3/21 vs MIA — 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 111, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 18 free throws a game; Durant at 21 and Thompson at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 34 free throws a game; Adebayo at 38 and Powell at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Wiggins (7 straight), Jović (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the line, where Miami takes 34 free throws a game to Houston's 18 and the defense, Houston allowing 111 a night to Miami's 125. Call it Houston 116, Miami 115, Miami keeping it close.
3/05 @ SAC 133-123 — NOP notes
NOP won 133-123. NOP shot 50% (49 of 98) to SAC's 51%, 12 of 34 from three. The glass went 52-42 for them. Williamson led with 23 (10 of 14); Murphy III added 21, Bey 20. The hinge was Q3, 38-28: a lead of 4 became 14, and the lead reached 17. Matković was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
3/06 @ PHX 116-118 — NOP notes
NOP lost 116-118. NOP shot 45% (37 of 83) to PHX's 44%, 10 of 28 from three, and went to the line 37 times to PHX's 26 — 32 points from the stripe to their 18. Murphy III led with 22 (6 of 17, 4 of 9 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Bey added 19, Williamson 19. Q4 was theirs, 35-26, the deficit cut from 11 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 92-81 against them.
3/08 vs WAS 138-118 — NOP notes
NOP won 138-118. NOP shot 53% (47 of 89) to WAS's 45%, 7 of 23 from three, and went to the line 47 times to WAS's 27 — 37 points from the stripe to their 22. NOP turned it over 8 times to WAS's 17. Murphy III led with 24 (7 of 14, 4 of 9 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Bey added 23, Williamson 20. The hinge was Q4, 36-25: a lead of 9 became 20, and the lead reached 23. Queen was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/11 vs TOR 122-111 — NOP notes
NOP won 122-111. NOP shot 51% (45 of 88) to TOR's 41%, 14 of 29 from three. Murphy III led with 28 (8 of 12, 5 of 8 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Murray added 27, Williamson 19. The hinge was Q3, 33-25: a lead of 2 became 10, and the lead reached 18. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/13 @ HOU 105-107 — NOP notes
NOP lost 105-107. NOP shot 44% (37 of 84) to HOU's 43%, 13 of 32 from three, and went to the line 26 times to HOU's 17 — 18 points from the stripe to their 13. Murray led with 35 (14 of 18, 4 of 5 from three); Williamson added 21, Murphy III 14. Q4 was theirs, 33-27, the deficit cut from 8 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 80-72 against them. Bey's -15 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/16 vs DAL — 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 123 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 32 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Murphy III at 22 a game. Without Poole (7 straight), McGowens (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Flagg at 19 and Gafford at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Gafford (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the line, where New Orleans takes 32 free throws a game to Dallas's 23 and the turnovers, Dallas giving it away 16 times a game to New Orleans's 12. Call it New Orleans 122, Dallas 113.
3/18 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 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 34 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Williamson at 21 a game. Without McGowens (3 straight), Jordan (2 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 28 free throws a game; Leonard at 33 and Garland at 24 a game. They have lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Bogdanović (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-2 a night and the Clippers minus-9 and the line, where New Orleans takes 34 free throws a game to the Clippers' 28. Call it New Orleans 118, the Clippers 117, the Clippers keeping it close.
3/19 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 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 30 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Murphy III at 21 a game. Without McGowens (4 straight), Jordan (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 119, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 32 and Mathurin at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 7 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-3 a night and the Clippers minus-7 and the defense, New Orleans allowing 111 a night to the Clippers' 119. Call it New Orleans 119, the Clippers 115, the Clippers keeping it close.
3/21 vs CLE — 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 117 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Murphy III at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without McGowens (5 straight), Jordan (4 straight), Peavy (2 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 118, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Harden at 25 and Mobley at 24 a game. Without Allen (7 straight), Porter Jr. (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 107 a night to Cleveland's 118 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 15 times a game to Cleveland's 12. Call it New Orleans 118, Cleveland 116, Cleveland keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NOPDM D. Murray
DQ D. Queen
HJ H. Jones
JF J. Fears
KM K. Matković
MA Matkovic
SB S. Bey
TM T. Murphy III
YM Y. Missi
ZW Z. Williamson
HOUAT A. Thompson
CC C. Capela
DF D. Finney-Smith
JG J. Green
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
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 outlast Pelicans 107-105 to move into 3rd place in West
HOUSTON -- — Kevin Durant hit a go-ahead 18-footer with 7.6 seconds left and the Houston Rockets outlasted the New Orleans Pelicans 107-105 on Friday night to move into third place in the crowded Western Conference.
Durant scored 32 points two nights after matching his season low with 11 in a blowout loss at Denver. Against the Pelicans, he was 13 of 24 from the field and had six rebounds and five assists.
Amen Thompson added 23 points for Houston in the opener of five-game homestand. Reed Sheppard scored 18 points, and Jabari Smith Jr. had 16.
Dejounte Murray led New Orleans with 35 points, but stepped out of bounds with the Pelicans up a point with 13 seconds remaining. After Durant put the Rockets ahead, Zion Williamson threw the ball out of bounds, and Durant hit two free throws to put it away.
Murray was 14 of 18 from the field, hitting 4 of 5 3 pointers.
Williamson had 21 points. The Pelicans had won won two straight and three of four.
Up next Pelicans: Host Dallas on Monday night.
Rockets: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday and Wednesday nights.