Pelicans Have Another 4th-Quarter Collapse To Rockets, Brutal Loss At Home

New Orleans, LA - The New Orleans Pelicans (17-13) fell to the Houston Rockets (15-12), 106-104. Houston recorded their third road win on the season. The loss marks the second straight nail-biter defeat for New Orleans after losing on a buzzer-beater shot to Memphis on Tuesday. Houston was playing on back-to-back nights after playing Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks.

Zion returned after missing Thursday's game with an illness and immediately made his presence felt. Williamson scored the opening bucket within 15 seconds of the game starting. Houston immediately responded with a 9-0 run of their own, thanks to forward Jabari Smith, Jr. Williamson nearly matched him basket for basket, even hitting a three-point shot, which was the third of the season for Zion. Turnovers plagued the Pels for much of the first quarter, as they committed five turnovers, leading to eight Rockets points.

New Orleans shot 22% from beyond the arc and trailed the Rockets 26-24 after one. Williamson led the Pelicans with nine points, while Jabari Smith, Jr. led all scorers with 11. The Pels' porous shooting from downtown continued in the second quarter. New Orleans missed ten three-point shots in the first half, shooting 23% by halftime. Williamson continued his strong play, scoring nine more points in the second quarter for a game-high 18 points.

Brandon Ingram struggled in the half to find shots and a rhythm. Ingram attempted just three shots and scored three points. B.I. headed into this game, averaging nearly 26 points over the last three games, but the defense of Dillon Brooks and Tari Eason hampered him a bit to start the game. New Orleans held a 51-47 halftime lead over the Rockets.

The Pelicans lost a key member of their starting lineup early in the third quarter. Jonas Valanciunas picked up his fourth foul with eight minutes to go in the quarter and had to sit for the remainder of the period. Houston center Alperen Sengun took full advantage, scoring 14 points in the quarter. Brandon Ingram matched that output with 14 points to pace the Pels. A solid close to the period saw the Pelicans take an 84-79 advantage to the final period.

Houston opened the fourth quarter with all their starters on the bench. They promptly went on a 9-1 run to grab a lead before Trey Murphy III's three free throws broke the Rockets' run. Jonas returned to the game but quickly fouled out with his sixth personal. New Orleans' offense sputtered down the stretch, committing three turnovers in the last four minutes of play. The Pelicans scored a basket from the 3:54 mark in 12 seconds remaining. During that stretch, Houston was able to grab the lead and keep it to secure victory.

New Orleans committed 16 turnovers and missed nine free throws in the loss. The Pelicans shot 8/31 from deep as a team and racked up four technical fouls. New Orleans falls to 5-7 on the season in games within five points late in the fourth. The Pelicans have a few days to regroup for the holidays before hosting the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday at the Smoothie King Center.