The New Orleans Pelicans were favored by 10.5 points. They wound up beating the Houston Rockets by slightly more than that, winning 119-106, but the outcome was very much in doubt.
The thing is, the Rockets shouldn’t have enjoyed a one-point lead entering the fourth quarter, turning things into such a nail-biter. The Pelicans held a 78-60 lead at the 7:24 mark of the third, and up to that point, they were on cruise control.
The first 12 minutes witnessed a flawless performance from an offensive standpoint. In scoring 34 points, the Pelicans posted 11 assists.