ROCKETS DEFEAT PELICANS
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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Astros first baseman Christian Walker left Wednesday's game against the Athletics after being hit by a pitch on his right hand.
Manager Joe Espada said that he was hit on the top of his hand near his knuckles and that X-rays were negative.
“That's a good sign,” Espada said. “So we'll see how he feels tomorrow.”
Walker was hit by a 96 mph pitch from Luis Severino in the fourth inning. He writhed in pain for a few seconds before trotting to first base, where he was examined by a trainer.
He remained in the game and scored on a two-out single by Cam Smith.
Walker played defense in the next two innings before being replaced by pinch-hitter Mauricio Dubón in the bottom of the sixth.
“He played defense and once he came back for his at-bat, we asked him to grip a bat and he wasn't very comfortable doing that,” Espada said.