New Orleans Pelicans watch Houston Rockets turn second chances into separation at Smoothie King Center

The New Orleans Pelicans left the Smoothie King Center at 25-51 after a 134-102 result dropped them against the the Houston Rockets, who moved to 45-29. The New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets final score reflected Houston’s edge in total rebounds at 66-51 and second-chance points at 31-10.

First quarter

The Pelicans matched the Rockets at 29-29 in the opening quarter as New Orleans hit 27 points in the paint on the night and kept pace early. The Rockets still created extra possessions with 22 offensive rebounds in the game, a number that began to shape the opening stretch.

Second quarter

The Pelicans scored 18 in the second quarter while the Rockets scored 39, and Houston’s biggest lead reached 33 for the game. New Orleans went 19-for-28 at the free throw line for 68 percent, while Houston finished 18-for-21 for 86 percent as the gap widened. The Rockets also moved the ball for 33 assists, while the Pelicans totaled 19 assists.

Third quarter

The Pelicans put up 33 in the third quarter, matching their best quarter output from the game and leaning on interior finishing that produced 54 points in the paint. Zion Williamson led New Orleans with 18 points on 75 percent shooting and added 3 assists as the Pels tried to cut into the margin. Dejounte Murray added 19 points and 6 assists, and Saddiq Bey scored 18 with 7 rebounds as part of the New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets highlights.

Fourth quarter

The Pelicans scored 22 in the fourth quarter while Houston scored 33, and New Orleans finished with 11 turnovers compared with the Rockets’ 8. Yves Missi recorded 4 blocks to help New Orleans finish with 9 blocks, but Houston answered with 8 blocks and 9 steals to keep control. The New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets turning point showed up in Houston’s 31-10 advantage in second-chance points, and the New Orleans Pelicans full-time result was set with the Rockets shooting 41 percent from 3-point range on 18 makes.

The Pelicans are scheduled to visit the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon on 04/02/2026 at 10:00 PM EDT, with viewing available on KUNP, Gulf Coast Sports, and Pelicans+. Keep it locked for the next recap, and share this article with other Pels fans.