Rockets take over after halftime in a road victory over Pelicans
Mar 6, 2025, 10:53 pm
Rockets beat the Pelicans, 109-97. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.
Amen Thompson had 21 points and 11 rebounds and the Houston Rockets had a dominating second half to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 109-97 on Thursday night to open a home-and-home set.
Alperen Sengun added 22 points, eight assists and three steals, and Tari Eason scored 21 points as the Rockets snapped a three-game losing streak. They had lost their last eight road games.
Trey Murphy III scored 26 points to lead the Pelicans. Zion Williamson had 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Thompson had 12 points in the second half, including a dunk to cap the Rockets' opening spurt right out of the break that put them ahead for the first time — and for the rest of the game. They later had a 12-0 run in the third quarter.
When Houston trailed by double figures in the first quarter, Thompson had a highlight two-handed slam. He went around rookie Yves Missi and made a double-clutch move to get the dunk.
Takeaways
Rockets: Houston, currently the fifth seed in the Western Conference, is 11-3 against division foes this season.
Pelicans: Williamson was only 5-of-15 shooting from the field, but did hit 10 of 12 free throws.
Key moment
The Rockets never led until a 9-1 run in the first two minutes of the second half, a quick spurt that Thompson capped with a dunk. They led the rest of the way, going ahead by as many as 17 points.
Key stat
Thompson had eight dunks.
Up next
The Rockets and Pelicans play again Saturday night, this time in Houston.
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The Jaguars agreed to trade Kirk to AFC South opponent Houston on Thursday for a seventh-round draft pick in 2026, a person familiar with the move said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither side had confirmed the deal, which won't be official until the new league year begins Wednesday.
The Texans were looking for a slot receiver after Tank Dell underwent a second knee surgery earlier this week. They also are letting veteran Stefon Diggs leave in free agency.
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Jacksonville told Kirk and his agent that the team planned to release him Wednesday. But few expected this divisional twist.
“Kirk to Houston can't be real,” Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen posted on X.
Trading Kirk will save the Jaguars $10.4 million against the salary cap in 2025. It will cost the team $13.6 million in dead money, though. The Texans would be on the hook for his $15.5 million salary unless he agrees to a restructured deal.
Kirk signed a four-year, $72 million deal in free agency in 2022. He delivered 84 catches for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns — all career highs — that season. But he has missed 14 games since.
He missed the final five games in 2023 because of a core muscle injury and missed the final nine games last year after breaking a collarbone while trying to make a diving catch on a deep pass.
The Jaguars looked to move him at the trade deadline in late October, but the injury ended any chances of making that work. They discussed having him rework his contract to remain on the roster in 2025, but the sides failed to reach an agreement.
Kirk has 404 catches for 5,176 yards and 29 touchdowns in seven seasons, including four with Arizona. He clearly became Trevor Lawrence’s second option behind standout rookie Brian Thomas Jr. last season.