National Basketball Association
Houston 146, New Orleans 117
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 8, 2025
Where: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Officials: #81 Simone Jelks, #4 Sean Wright, #33 Sean Corbin
Attendance: 18055

Dillon Brooks scored a game-high 27 points, Aaron Holiday added 20 off the bench and Amen Thompson flirted with a triple-double as the Houston Rockets opened a six-game homestand with a 146-117 wire-to-wire victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday.

The Rockets capped the four-game season series sweep by shooting 55.6 percent overall, including 17 of 40 from behind the 3-point arc. Seven players scored in double figures for Houston, which seized a double-digit lead late in the first quarter en route to a season-high point total.

Thompson totaled 15 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists while Alperen Sengun posted 20 points and six assists plus two steals and two blocks. Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason scored 14 and 12 points, respectively; Jalen Green paired 14 points with seven rebounds for the Rockets.

Zion Williamson tallied 20 points for the Pelicans. CJ McCollum added 17 points while Jose Alvarado paired 17 points with seven assists off the bench. New Orleans lost for the fourth time in five games.

Houston shot 63 percent in the opening period and, when Sengun followed his driving, one-handed dunk with a second-chance basket at the end of the frame, the Rockets carried a 39-28 lead into the second quarter and maintained that blistering pace through the end of the first half.

Brooks lifted Houston to a 60-40 lead with his 6-footer at the 6:06 mark before Alvarado sparked a 13-2 run that pulled the Pelicans within nine points. Alvarado totaled 13 points and four assists in the second, drilling a 3-pointer and assisting McCollum for another during the Pelicans' rally.

But the Rockets steadied themselves behind Brooks, who nailed a 3-pointer and then stole the ensuing inbounds pass before drawing a foul from Williamson and sinking a pair of free throws. The Rockets led 74-58 at the intermission and extended to a 21-point advantage in the third before the Pelicans fashioned their final comeback attempt.

New Orleans clawed to within 93-79 with a 7-0 burst before Brooks again provided the steadying hand. His transition 3-pointer lifted Houston to a 104-81 lead with 1:49 left in the third.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
New Orleans   Houston
Zion Williamson 20 Scoring Dillon Brooks 27
Jose Alvarado 7 Assists Amen Thompson 11
Karlo Matkovic 7 Rebounds Amen Thompson 9
Jamal Cain 2 Free Throws Made Alperen Sengun 6
Zion Williamson 2 Steals Steven Adams 2
Kelly Olynyk 2 Blocks Steven Adams 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
New Orleans 117 48.5 12-34 9-16 29 44 3 7 14
Houston 146 55.6 17-40 19-21 32 48 7 9 11
Upcoming Games
  • Houston will play their next game at home against Orlando. The Rockets have a W/L % of .590 after a win and .640 after a loss.
  • New Orleans will play their next game at home against Memphis. The Pelicans have a W/L % of .412 after a win and .213 after a loss.