Field Level Media
Feb 9, 2021
Josh Hart and Willy Hernangomez had double-doubles off the bench as the New Orleans Pelicans routed the visiting Houston Rockets 130-101 on Tuesday night.
Hart had 20 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, and Hernangomez had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Brandon Ingram scored 22, Zion Williamson overcame foul trouble to score 20 in 21 minutes, Lonzo Ball had 15 and Eric Bledsoe 10 as the Pelicans won their fourth consecutive game.
John Wall scored 25, Eric Gordon 23, Jae'Sean Tate and Danuel House Jr. 13 each and Sterling Brown 11 to lead the Rockets, who lost for the fourth time in five games.
New Orleans began the third quarter with a 9-3 run to open a 72-53 lead, but Williamson went to the bench after committing his fourth foul with 8:18 left in the period.
The Pelicans extended the lead to 82-62 on Ball's 3-pointer midway through the quarter.
The Rockets scored the next nine points before Kira Lewis Jr. answered with a layup.
Houston scored the next five points to pull within 84-76, but the Pelicans held a 92-81 lead at the end of the period.
New Orleans scored the first four points of the fourth quarter. The Rockets twice got within 10 points but didn't get any closer.
Williamson went to the bench after committing his second foul with 9:41 left in the first quarter and was the only Pelicans starter not to score as they took a 14-10 lead.
House scored five points as the Rockets took a 21-18 lead before Williamson returned late in the quarter.
Williamson scored six points and had an assist as New Orleans took a 30-25 lead at the end of the first. He added four quick points to start the second quarter before going to the bench again after committing his third foul with 10:07 left in the period.
Houston got within one point, but Hart scored 10 points during a 17-0 run that gave the Pelicans a 61-43 lead.
P.J. Tucker's basket ended the run, and the Rockets cut the lead to 63-50 at halftime.
--Field Level Media