Game ID: 22500375
Houston Rockets @ New Orleans Pelicans
Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT1 Final
NOP 24 21 38 36 14 133HOU 33 34 32 20 9 128
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 12/06 · 1 day's restOUT Williamson missed 3 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 7 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Poole missed 16 since 11/05, out tonight
OUT Missi missed 2 since 12/02, returns tonight: 18 min (89% of 20)
OUT Jordan missed 19 since 10/31, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 12/02 after 2, 37 min since (105% of 36)
BACK Matković back 12/04 after 8, 18 min since (126% of 15)
BACK Looney back 11/29 after 2, 12 min since (85% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/02 after 2, 19 min since (141% of 14)
BACK Alexander back 11/30 after 19, 12 min since (101% of 12)
NEW Fears 26 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW McGowens 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Peavy 15 to 24 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Williamson missed 4 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 8 since 11/22, returns tonight: 26 min (90% of 28)
OUT Poole missed 17 since 11/05, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 20 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 2 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 12/02 after 2, 37 min since (103% of 36)
BACK Missi back 12/06 after 2, 18 min since (89% of 20)
BACK Matković back 12/04 after 8, 15 min since (99% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/02 after 2, 18 min since (129% of 14)
BACK Alexander back 11/30 after 19, 12 min since (101% of 12)
NEW Fears 26 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Alvarado 22 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW McGowens 21 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Peavy 15 to 23 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Williamson missed 5 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Poole missed 18 since 11/05, returns tonight: 26 min (108% of 24)
OUT Jordan missed 21 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 3 since 12/04, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 12/02 after 2, 37 min since (104% of 36)
BACK Jones back 12/08 after 8, 26 min since (90% of 28)
BACK Missi back 12/06 after 2, 13 min since (64% of 20)
BACK Matković back 12/04 after 8, 12 min since (83% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/02 after 2, 14 min since (103% of 14)
NEW Queen 25 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Alvarado 22 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW McGowens 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/14 · 2 days' restOUT Williamson missed 6 since 11/30, returns tonight: 27 min (90% of 30)
OUT Jordan missed 22 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 4 since 12/04, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 3 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Murphy III back 12/02 after 2, 36 min since (101% of 36)
BACK Jones back 12/08 after 8, 20 min since (71% of 28)
BACK Poole back 12/11 after 18, 26 min since (108% of 24)
BACK Missi back 12/06 after 2, 13 min since (65% of 20)
BACK Matković back 12/04 after 8, 9 min since (64% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/02 after 2, 12 min since (85% of 14)
NEW Queen 25 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW McGowens 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/18 · 3 days' restOUT Jordan missed 23 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 5 since 12/04, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 4 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Williamson back 12/14 after 6, 27 min since (90% of 30)
BACK Jones back 12/08 after 8, 20 min since (70% of 28)
BACK Poole back 12/11 after 18, 27 min since (111% of 24)
BACK Missi back 12/06 after 2, 12 min since (63% of 20)
BACK Matković back 12/04 after 8, 10 min since (68% of 15)
NOP availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 24 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Peavy missed 2 since 12/14, returns tonight: 15 min (97% of 15)
OUT Looney missed 6 since 12/04, out tonight
OUT Hawkins missed 2 since 12/14, returns tonight: 3 min (21% of 14)
OUT Alexander missed 5 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Williamson back 12/14 after 6, 24 min since (81% of 30)
BACK Jones back 12/08 after 8, 25 min since (86% of 28)
BACK Poole back 12/11 after 18, 26 min since (108% of 24)
BACK Missi back 12/06 after 2, 11 min since (57% of 20)
NEW Queen 25 to 31 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/22 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 25 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 7 since 12/04, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 6 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Williamson back 12/14 after 6, 24 min since (80% of 30)
BACK Jones back 12/08 after 8, 22 min since (78% of 28)
BACK Poole back 12/11 after 18, 27 min since (114% of 24)
BACK Peavy back 12/20 after 2, 15 min since (97% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/20 after 2, 3 min since (21% of 14)
NEW Queen 25 to 31 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT McGowens missed 2 since 12/20, returns tonight: 31 min (146% of 21)
OUT Jordan missed 26 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 8 since 12/04, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 7 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Williamson back 12/14 after 6, 24 min since (81% of 30)
BACK Poole back 12/11 after 18, 27 min since (114% of 24)
BACK Peavy back 12/20 after 2, 10 min since (66% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/20 after 2, 3 min since (21% of 14)
NEW Queen 25 to 31 min over the last 5
NOP availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Jordan missed 27 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Looney missed 9 since 12/04, out tonight
OUT Alexander missed 8 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Williamson back 12/14 after 6, 24 min since (79% of 30)
BACK McGowens back 12/23 after 2, 31 min since (146% of 21)
BACK Peavy back 12/20 after 2, 11 min since (75% of 15)
BACK Hawkins back 12/20 after 2, 12 min since (90% of 14)
HOU availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 8 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 19 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/30 after 2, 34 min since (93% of 36)
NEW Holiday 14 to 25 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/06 · back-to-backOUT Eason missed 9 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 20 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/30 after 2, 34 min since (92% of 36)
NEW Holiday 14 to 26 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/11 · 4 days' restOUT Sengun missed 2 since 12/05, returns tonight: 36 min (107% of 34)
OUT Eason missed 10 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 21 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Durant back 11/30 after 2, 33 min since (91% of 36)
NEW Holiday 14 to 25 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/15 · 3 days' restOUT Eason missed 11 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 22 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 12/11 after 2, 36 min since (107% of 34)
NEW Holiday 14 to 25 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/18 · 2 days' restOUT Eason missed 12 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 23 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 12/11 after 2, 39 min since (116% of 34)
NEW Okogie 17 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 14 to 20 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 13 since 11/16, out tonight
OUT Finney-Smith missed 24 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 12/11 after 2, 38 min since (113% of 34)
NEW Okogie 17 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 14 to 19 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/21 · back-to-backOUT Eason missed 14 since 11/16, returns tonight: 16 min (59% of 26)
OUT Finney-Smith missed 25 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 12/11 after 2, 36 min since (107% of 34)
NEW Smith Jr. 36 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW Okogie 17 to 26 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Finney-Smith missed 26 since 10/21, out tonight
BACK Sengun back 12/11 after 2, 37 min since (110% of 34)
BACK Eason back 12/21 after 14, 16 min since (59% of 26)
NEW Durant 36 to 42 min over the last 5
NEW Okogie 17 to 28 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Finney-Smith missed 27 since 10/21, returns tonight: 13 min (81% of 16)
BACK Eason back 12/21 after 14, 17 min since (64% of 26)
NEW Okogie 17 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.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 121, shooting 49 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murphy III at 24 and Bey at 16 a game. Without Jordan (23 straight). 3 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 28 and Durant at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 15 a night. Without Eason (12 straight), Finney-Smith (23 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-15 a night and New Orleans plus-0 and the arc, Houston at 40 percent from three to New Orleans's 30. Call it Houston 119, New Orleans 116, New Orleans keeping it close.
12/06 @ BKN 101-119 — NOP notes
NOP lost 101-119. NOP shot 45% (37 of 82) to BKN's 53%, 9 of 25 from three, and went to the line 22 times to BKN's 14 — 18 points from the stripe to their 11. Murphy III led with 23 (10 of 17, 2 of 7 from three); Bey added 18, McGowens 16. Q4 was theirs, 26-23, the deficit cut from 21 to 18, but the other 3 periods went 96-75 against them. Murphy III's -25 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 vs SAS 132-135 — NOP notes
NOP lost 132-135. NOP shot 58% (51 of 88) to SAS's 50%, 7 of 26 from three. The glass went 33-43 against them. Queen led with 33 (11 of 15, 11 of 13 at the line); Murphy III added 32, Bey 17. Q3 was theirs, 45-23, turning a 20-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 112-87 against them. Peavy's -20 in 13 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/11 vs POR 143-120 — NOP notes
NOP won 143-120. NOP shot 52% (58 of 112) to POR's 44%, 12 of 32 from three. NOP turned it over 8 times to POR's 15. The glass went 57-41 for them. Murphy III led with 24 (10 of 14, 1 of 3 from three); McGowens added 23, Poole 22. The hinge was Q4, 38-23: a lead of 8 became 23. McGowens was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
12/14 @ CHI 114-104 — NOP notes
NOP won 114-104. NOP shot 46% (43 of 93) to CHI's 41%, 8 of 33 from three, and went to the line 25 times to CHI's 17 — 20 points from the stripe to their 15. The glass went 53-43 for them. Murphy III led with 20 (8 of 14, 2 of 6 from three); Fears added 20, Williamson 18. The hinge was Q2, 31-21: NOP came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 5, and the lead reached 15. Bey was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/18 vs HOU 133-128 — NOP notes
NOP won 133-128 in 1 overtime. NOP shot 51% (49 of 97) to HOU's 47%, 11 of 27 from three. NOP turned it over 12 times to HOU's 18. The glass went 41-58 against them. Bey led with 29 (11 of 18, 3 of 5 from three); Murphy III added 27, Jones 18. The hinge was Q4, 36-20: NOP came in trailing by 16 and left it level. NOP trailed 45-67 at the half and won the second half 88-61. Bey was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
12/20 vs IND — 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 125 a night and allowing 121, shooting 50 percent and 33 from three, 24 free throws a game; Murphy III at 25 and Bey at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Jordan (24 straight), Peavy (2 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 109, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Siakam at 23 and Nembhard at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Nesmith (15 straight), Sheppard (5 straight), Toppin (24 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, Indiana allowing 109 a night to New Orleans's 121 and the glass, where New Orleans has been minus-2 a night and Indiana minus-7. Call it New Orleans 118, Indiana 115, Indiana keeping it close.
12/22 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 4-1 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 119, shooting 52 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; Murphy III at 24 and Williamson at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Jordan (25 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 119, shooting 51 percent and 28 from three, 28 free throws a game; Flagg at 26 and Davis at 23 a game. One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-1 a night and Dallas minus-3 and the arc, New Orleans at 32 percent from three to Dallas's 28. Call it New Orleans 121, Dallas 118, Dallas keeping it close.
12/23 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 128, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mitchell at 32 and Garland at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mobley (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 31 from three, 26 free throws a game; Williamson at 20 and Murphy III at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without McGowens (2 straight), Jordan (26 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 115 a night to Cleveland's 128 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-2 a night and Cleveland minus-5. Call it Cleveland 122, New Orleans 121, New Orleans keeping it close.
12/26 vs PHX — 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 122 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 28 free throws a game; Williamson at 21 and Murphy III at 18 a game. Without Jordan (27 straight). 2 days' rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Brooks at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Allen (3 straight), Green (19 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New Orleans has been minus-2 a night and Phoenix minus-9 and the line, where New Orleans takes 28 free throws a game to Phoenix's 21. Call it New Orleans 118, Phoenix 116, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/05 vs PHX 117-98 — HOU notes
HOU won 117-98. HOU shot 59% (45 of 76) to PHX's 39%, 10 of 18 from three. HOU turned it over 21 times to PHX's 13, and PHX turned those into 12 steals. Thompson led with 31 (12 of 17, 6 of 6 at the line); Durant added 28, Smith Jr. 16. The hinge was Q2, 44-27: HOU came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 10, and the lead reached 30. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
12/06 @ DAL 109-122 — HOU notes
HOU lost 109-122. HOU shot 51% (44 of 87) to DAL's 60%, 10 of 29 from three, and got to the line 13 times to DAL's 20. HOU turned it over 18 times to DAL's 12, and DAL turned those into 13 steals. Durant led with 27 (11 of 20, 1 of 3 from three); Smith Jr. added 22, Holiday 19. Q4 was theirs, 32-28, the deficit cut from 17 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 94-77 against them. Thompson's -14 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/11 vs LAC 115-113 — HOU notes
HOU won 115-113. HOU shot 46% (43 of 93) to LAC's 50%, 12 of 34 from three. The glass went 51-28 for them. Sengun led with 22 (9 of 22, 0 of 3 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Thompson added 20, Smith Jr. 18. The hinge was Q4, 35-31: HOU came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 2. HOU trailed 51-54 at the half and won the second half 64-59. Adams was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
12/15 @ DEN 125-128 — HOU notes
HOU lost 125-128 in 1 overtime. HOU took 8 more shots (93 to 85), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 51% to DEN's 51%, 12 of 25 from three, and got to the line 26 times to DEN's 33. HOU turned it over 16 times to DEN's 10, and DEN turned those into 10 steals. Sengun led with 33 (14 of 27, 5 of 6 at the line); Durant added 25, Smith Jr. 16. Q1 was theirs, 30-24, but the other 4 periods went 104-95 against them. Adams's -8 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/18 @ NOP 128-133 — HOU notes
HOU lost 128-133 in 1 overtime. HOU took 10 more shots (107 to 97), fed by 25 offensive rebounds, but shot 47% to NOP's 51%, 10 of 32 from three. HOU turned it over 18 times to NOP's 12, and NOP turned those into 15 steals. The glass went 58-41 for them. Durant led with 32 (12 of 15, 4 of 6 from three); Sengun added 28, Thompson 23. Q2 was theirs, 34-21, but the other 4 periods went 112-94 against them. They led by as many as 25.
12/20 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 117, shooting 54 percent and 42 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jokić at 33 and Murray at 27 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Braun (15 straight), Gordon (11 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 28 and Durant at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Eason (13 straight), Finney-Smith (24 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-12 a night and Denver minus-4 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 18 times a game to Denver's 11. Call it Denver 122, Houston 116.
12/21 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 27 free throws a game; DeRozan at 19 and Raynaud at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without LaVine (2 straight), Sabonis (14 straight), Plowden (16 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Sengun at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Eason (14 straight), Finney-Smith (25 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-12 a night and Sacramento minus-2 and the arc, Houston at 41 percent from three to Sacramento's 30. Call it Houston 119, Sacramento 114.
12/23 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and Harden at 22 a game. Without Jones Jr. (15 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Sengun at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Finney-Smith (26 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and the Clippers plus-0 and the arc, Houston at 42 percent from three to the Clippers' 35. Call it Houston 116, the Clippers 113, the Clippers keeping it close.
12/25 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 31 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and James at 26 a game. Without Hachimura (2 straight), Vincent (3 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Sengun at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Finney-Smith (27 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 41 percent from three to the Lakers' 30 and the line, where the Lakers take 31 free throws a game to Houston's 24. Call it Houston 119, the Lakers 118, the Lakers keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
NOPBM B. McGowens
DQ D. Queen
HJ H. Jones
JA J. Alvarado
JF J. Fears
JP J. Poole
KM K. Matković
MA Matkovic
SB S. Bey
TM T. Murphy III
YM Y. Missi
ZW Z. Williamson
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CC C. Capela
JO J. Okogie
JS J. Smith Jr.
KD K. Durant
RS R. Sheppard
SA S. Adams
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
Bey has season-high 29 points to lead Pelicans' 25-point comeback in a 133-128 OT win over Houston
NEW ORLEANS -- — Saddiq Bey scored 21 of his season-high 29 points after halftime, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 25-point, third-quarter deficit to beat the Houston Rockets 133-128 in overtime on Thursday night.
Trey Murphy scored 27 points and Herb Jones had 18 points and a career-high eight steals before fouling out for the Pelicans, who've won three straight after winning just three of their first 25 games.
The 25-point comeback tied a franchise high and was the largest second-half comeback in franchise history, which dates back to the 2002-03 season.
Jordan Poole scored 15 points, capped by two free throws with 12 seconds left in overtime that put the Pelicans up 131-128. Houston's Reed Sheppard missed two shots from 3-point range in the final seconds before Bey got the rebound and hit game-sealing free throws with 2 seconds left in the extra period as a jubilant crowd that had been on its feet since the final minutes of regulation celebrated the unlikely comeback.
Kevin Durant scored 32 points and Alperen Sengun had 28 for Houston, but Sengun was unable to get off a shot for the win after dribbling into the paint in the final seconds of regulation.
Sengun missed two free throws with 43 seconds left in the fourth quarter, allowing New Orleans to complete the second-half comeback and tie it at 117 on Bey's driving finger roll with 31 seconds to play.
Rookie Derik Queen had 16 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks, and his 18-foot jumper sparked an 11-0 run early in the fourth quarter. The surge ended with Bey's dunk and pulled the Pelicans to 101-96.
Durant helped Houston dominate early by scoring 13 points in the first quarter, hitting his first five shots, including three 3s.
The Pelicans, by contrast, missed 20 of 29 shots in the paint during the first half.
Durant had 18 points by halftime, when Houston led 67-45.
New Orleans methodically trimmed its deficit to 13 in the third quarter before entering the fourth quarter trailing 99-83.
Up next Rockets: At the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.