The Houston Rockets dominated the New Orleans Pelicans with a 146-117 victory on Saturday, led by Dillon Brooks’ season-high 27 points.
Houston (39-25) controlled the game from start to finish, securing its second straight win over New Orleans (17-47) after a 109-97 victory on Thursday. Brooks shot 9-of-14 from the field, including 7-of-11 from three-point range, helping the Rockets improve to 7-2 when he scores at least 20 points.
Alperen Sengun and Aaron Holiday each contributed 20 points, while Amen Thompson recorded 15 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds before exiting with an injury in the fourth quarter. The team did not immediately provide an update on his condition.
Houston set the tone early, jumping out to a 39-28 lead after the first quarter and maintaining control throughout. New Orleans cut the deficit to 11 just before halftime on a CJ McCollum three-pointer, but Brooks answered with a three of his own. A late Pelicans turnover led to two Brooks free throws, giving the Rockets a 16-point lead at the break.
The Rockets extended their advantage in the third, opening with an 8-4 run to go up by 20. By the start of the fourth, Houston held a commanding 111-85 lead, allowing them to cruise to their highest-scoring game of the season.
Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 20 points, while Jose Alvarado and McCollum each added 17. However, New Orleans struggled defensively, allowing Houston to shoot 55.6% from the field and 42.5% from beyond the arc.
