Rockets Pull Away From Pelicans Behind Sengun’s 36

The Houston Rockets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 134-102 on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Smoothie King Center, with Alperen Sengun leading the way with 36 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and three blocks as Houston improved to 45-29 and New Orleans fell to 25-51.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter

The teams were even through 12 minutes, finishing the opening quarter tied 29-29. New Orleans kept pace early behind balanced scoring, while Houston established good ball movement and interior touches for Sengun without creating separation.

Second Quarter

The game turned sharply in the second. Houston outscored New Orleans 39-18 in the quarter, taking a 68-47 lead into halftime. The Rockets found rhythm from three-point range, controlled the glass, and consistently generated second-chance opportunities. That 21-point swing became the defining stretch of the night.

Third Quarter

New Orleans matched Houston 33-33 in the third quarter, but it did little to dent the deficit. The Pelicans had better offensive flow after halftime, yet the Rockets answered nearly every push and maintained firm control entering the fourth with a 101-80 lead.

Fourth Quarter

Houston closed the game with another strong offensive period, outscoring New Orleans 33-22 over the final 12 minutes. The Rockets continued to move the ball effectively and kept the Pelicans from making any meaningful late run, finishing with a 32-point road win.

Key Performers

Houston Rockets:
Alperen Sengun was the standout performer, finishing with 36 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and three blocks. He led all scorers and impacted the game on both ends.
Clint Capela added major value on the glass, leading Houston with 14 rebounds.
As a team, the Rockets posted 33 assists, 59 rebounds, and 18 made three-pointers while shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from deep.

New Orleans Pelicans:
Dejounte Murray led New Orleans with 19 points and six assists.
Saddiq Bey paced the Pelicans with seven rebounds.
The Pelicans shot 43.0 percent overall and 31.0 percent from three, but their 19 assists and 36 rebounds reflected the difference in offensive creation and possession control.

NerdSports Stat: Houston finished with 23 more rebounds and 14 more assists than New Orleans, a rare combination that shows the Rockets controlled both possession volume and shot creation in the same game.

Game Analysis

This game was decided by Houston’s command of the middle quarters and its overall efficiency profile. The Rockets attempted 105 field goals to New Orleans’ 86, a major gap driven by rebounding and extra possessions. Houston also made 18 three-pointers compared with nine for the Pelicans, doubling New Orleans from long range.

Sengun’s all-around line set the tone, but the Rockets’ team structure was just as important. Their 33 assists point to a connected offense, and their 59 rebounds prevented New Orleans from building momentum. Even when the Pelicans matched Houston in the third quarter, they could not string together stops often enough to trim the margin.

For New Orleans, the second quarter remained the central problem. An 18-point period against a team scoring 39 on the other side left little margin for recovery. Murray provided steady production, but the Pelicans needed more scoring support and more control on the glass to stay within range.

Closing Context

The win moved Houston to 45-29, an important result as the Rockets continue their push in the Western Conference playoff race. For New Orleans, now 25-51, the loss was another reminder of how difficult it is to recover after a one-sided middle stretch against a deeper team. With the regular season winding down, Houston will look to carry this offensive balance forward, while the Pelicans search for more consistent four-quarter execution.

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