Houston, Dec. 6 (BUS): Eric Gordon and Christian Wood each scored 23 points, and the Houston Rockets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 118-108 on Sunday night for their sixth straight win.
Brandon Ingram scored an all-time high of 40 points for the Pelicans — the most since losing 40 points to Brooklyn on November 4, 2019. Jonas Valanciunas finished 17 points and 10 rebounds, but New Orleans lost their third game in their last five games, AP reports .
Houston’s Daniel Theiss scored 12 points on 4 of his 6 shots from the field, and Alperin Sengoon finished with 10 points.
New Orleans trimmed Houston’s eight-point lead in the first half to five before 10:48 left in the third quarter, but Gordon single-handedly increased it back into double digits by scoring 13 points after the Rockets over 3:46 to inflate the score. Leads to 72-61.
In the fourth quarter, KJ Martin electrified the crowd with a massive immersion, increasing the Rockets’ lead to 98-87.
Garrison Matthews, who had not scored since the second quarter, buried a 3rd corner kick with 18.1 seconds left to extend the Rockets’ lead to 118-108.
Hint
Pelicans: Josh Hart (left knee pain) missed his third game in a row, despite sharing a few shots before the game… Willy Hernangómez scored 10 points and grabbed 14 rebounds off the bench for his second straight double.
Rockets: JK Kevin Porter Jr. (a contusion to the left thigh) is considered daily at this point, said coach Stephen Silas. …rookie Galen Green missed his fifth game in a row due to a hamstring strain.
the following
The Pelicans: Start a two-player home game on Wednesday hosted by Denver.
The Rockets: Continue playing at the four-game home hosted by Brooklyn on Wednesday.