In a matchup where strength met speed, Houston Rockets’ center Alperen Sengun outpaced New Orleans veteran Jonas Valanciunas, scoring a career-high 37 points and securing 11 rebounds to lead the Rockets (15-12) to a narrow 106-104 victory over the Pelicans (17-13) on Saturday night.
Jabari Smith Jr. contributed 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Fred VanVleet added 10 points for the Rockets.
The game remained tightly contested throughout, with neither team holding more than a seven-point lead.
Zion Williamson showcased his power with 28 points, while Brandon Ingram added 19 points and Trey Murphy contributed 14.
However, the Pelicans’ struggles included turnovers in the final minutes and missed free throws, with Williamson alone missing five.
