Amen Thompson delivered 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Houston Rockets dominated the second half to secure a 109-97 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night. Houston (38-25) snapped a three-game losing streak and ended an eight-game road skid.
Alperen Sengun contributed 22 points, eight assists, and three steals, while Tari Eason added 21 points. The Rockets trailed at halftime but surged ahead with a 9-1 run early in the third quarter, capped by a Thompson dunk, and never relinquished the lead.
Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans (17-46) with 26 points, while Zion Williamson posted 20 points and 10 rebounds. However, Williamson struggled from the field, shooting just 5-of-15.
Houston outscored New Orleans 33-15 in the third quarter, building a lead that stretched to 17 points. The Rockets’ defense tightened after halftime, forcing the Pelicans into tough shots and turnovers.
Thompson provided key highlights throughout the game, including a double-clutch dunk over rookie Yves Missi in the first quarter. He finished with eight dunks on the night.
Dillon Brooks chipped in 14 points, while Jabari Smith Jr. added 16 off the bench for Houston. The Rockets shot 56.8% from the field compared to 37.3% by New Orleans.
CJ McCollum had 13 points for the Pelicans, and Kelly Olynyk finished with eight. New Orleans went 26-of-33 from the free-throw line but struggled from deep, hitting just 9-of-27 attempts.
Houston improved to 11-3 against division opponents this season and remained in fifth place in the Western Conference.
