The New Orleans Pelicans didn’t have Zion Williamson the first two times they played the Houston Rockets this season.
They had Williamson this time and it still didn’t matter.
Williamson had an off night and the Pelicans had an off third quarter, all leading to a 109-97 loss to the Rockets Thursday night in Smoothie King Center.
Trey Murphy was one of the lone bright spots for the Pelicans, finishing with 26 points and five rebounds. It wasn’t nearly enough in a game that swung when the Pelicans collapsed in the second half. The Pelicans got outscored 33-15 in the third quarter. The 15 points tied for the fewest the Pels have scored in a third quarter all season.
Williamson finished with 20 points, but made just 5 of 15 shots from the floor. He also had 10 rebounds and three assists.
The Pelicans (17-46) dropped to 0-3 against the Rockets this season. The two teams play for the final time Saturday in Houston’s Toyota Center. The Pelicans’ two December losses to the Rockets were by double digits (20 points and 17 points). Houston’s Jalen Green scored 34 points in the first meeting and 30 in the second, combing to make 10 of 21 3-pointers in those two games.
“We’ve got to get to him,” Willie Green said before Thursday’s game. “If you allow him to play with a lack of physicality (on him), he is going to score in bunches. We haven’t done a great job of guarding him the last couple times we’ve played him, so tonight it’ll definitely be an emphasis on making sure we’re physical with him and making him take tough shots. And not allowing him to come down in transition and tee up 3’s on us. It’s going to be a collective effort.”
Jalen Green was held to just three points in the first half and finished with just nine points this time around. His teammates more than picked up the slack though.
The Pelicans led 59-56 at halftime, thanks in part to Murphy scoring 21 points through the first two quarters. The Pelicans led by as many as 11 in the first half after going on an 8-0 run. Kelly Olynyk picked up two quick fouls in the opening minute of the second half (his fourth of the game) and had to sit. The Pels unraveled in the quarter and trailed 89-74 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Rockets (38-25) snapped an 8-game road losing streak. Their last road win before Thursday came on Jan. 28 against the Atlanta Hawks.
CJ McCollum finished with 13 points and Yves Missi scored 10.