Houston Rockets (45-29) beat New Orleans Pelicans (25-51) 134-102 on the road on Sunday, March 29. The final margin was 32 points.
The game, quarter by quarter
The teams matched each other with 29 points apiece in the first quarter, leaving it level at 29. The Rockets moved in front with a 39-18 second quarter, carrying a 21-point lead into halftime.
The teams matched each other with 33 points apiece in the third quarter, so the Rockets remained ahead by 21 entering the fourth. The Rockets took the fourth 33-22; the Rockets finished the job for a 134-102 regulation win.
Why it was lopsided
The Rockets grabbed 44% of their own misses, while the Pelicans recovered 17.8%. The Rockets took better care of the ball, turning it over on 6.1% of possessions compared with 10% for the Pelicans. The second chances kept adding up.
The Pelicans did win one battle, the free-throw line: FT rate of 22.1 against 17.1. The Rockets made up for it elsewhere.
At roughly 99 possessions per team, the Rockets produced 135 points per 100 possessions to 102.7 for the Pelicans.
Who stood out
Alperen Sengun was the game's biggest individual force for HOU: 36 pts, 13 reb, 7 ast, 3 stl, 3 blk on 12-23 shooting. His Game Score of 40.2 led everyone. His team was +26 with him on the floor.
Dejounte Murray led the Pelicans with 19 pts, 4 reb, 6 ast on 8-14 shooting, good for a 18.1 Game Score.
Alperen Sengun (36 pts, 13 reb, 7 ast) recorded a double-double.
What it means
The pre-game Win Meter had it close to a coin flip, at about 54% for the Rockets.
Across the last 7 meetings in our records, Houston Rockets lead 6-1.
The Rockets are now 45-29, and the Pelicans are 25-51. The Rockets last five before this game: W-W-L-L-W.
Written automatically by Tip Off Live software from box score data. Ratings and probabilities are our own model estimates.