The New Orleans Pelicans endured another challenging night on the road, falling 133-113 to the Houston Rockets on Thursday. Despite a standout performance from Trey Murphy III, who scored 28 points, and Herb Jones adding 20, New Orleans couldn’t keep up with Houston’s explosive offense. Jalen Green torched the Pelicans with 34 points, including a blistering 22-point third quarter, as the Rockets outscored New Orleans 37-22 in that frame to pull away.
The Pelicans’ defensive woes were on full display, allowing Houston to dominate in transition with a 26-11 advantage in fast-break points. Missing key players like Zion Williamson and José Alvarado due to injuries, along with Daniel Theis for personal reasons, New Orleans fell to 1-14 on the road and extended their losing streak to five games.
Transition defense continued to plague the Pelicans, who entered the game ranked near the bottom of the league in fast-break points allowed. Houston capitalized on this glaring weakness, further exposing New Orleans’ inability to respond to high-tempo play. Meanwhile, the Pelicans struggled to contain the Rockets’ long-range shooting, as Houston drained 17 of 39 attempts from beyond the arc, including seven in the opening quarter.
The loss sends New Orleans back home for a five-game homestand, starting with the New York Knicks on Saturday. With their playoff aspirations looking increasingly precarious, the Pelicans must regroup quickly to turn their season around and break free from their road struggles.
