The Houston Rockets held off a late rally to secure a 107–105 victory over the visiting New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. Kevin Durant scored a team-high 32 points.
Strong Performances For Houston
Amen Thompson came close to a triple-double with 23 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for Houston.
Meanwhile, Jabari Smith Jr. added 16 points and Reed Sheppard contributed 18 points off the bench, including five three-pointers.
Pelicans’ Late Surge
The Pelicans appeared set for victory after a late surge led by Dejounte Murray, who produced a season-high 35 points.
Zion Williamson also added 21 points, and a 12–1 run gave New Orleans a 104–100 lead with just 31.8 seconds remaining.
Rockets Seal Dramatic Win
Houston responded quickly when Smith drilled a corner three-pointer before Murray stepped out of bounds with 13 seconds left.
Durant then hit a pull-up jumper to give the Rockets a 105–104 lead. Another turnover from New Orleans allowed the veteran forward to seal the win with two free throws.
Murray’s Standout Performance
Murray had been outstanding throughout the game, shooting 14-of-18 from the field in his eighth appearance since returning from an Achilles injury.
Despite trailing by as many as 11 points earlier in the contest, the Pelicans rallied strongly in the fourth quarter but ultimately fell just short as Houston held on for the narrow victory.
Leave a comment