Rockets (55-14), Pelicans (39-30)
New Orleans has frequently come back this season to win from double-digit deficits, including twice doing so against San Antonio, once in historic fashion on the Spurs’ home floor. The Pelicans were in the same predicament Saturday, trailing Houston by 20 in the second half before mounting a rally, but didn’t have enough to finish the comeback. The Rockets relied on their usual blend of James Harden individual exploits (32 points) and three-point accuracy (15/41 from the arc) to improve to 2-1 against their Southwest Division counterparts.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Houston was able to bleed 24 seconds off the game clock in the final minute, but still get the offensive rebound when the ball trickled out of bounds after a scramble for possession.