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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — CJ McCallum scored 28 points as the shorthanded Pelicans extended their lead to 31 points in a 119-108 victory over the struggling Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.
Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points and 17 rebounds for New Orleans. The Pelicans snapped him a two-game skid in the first game. This is because his power star forward Zion Williamson has been sidelined for about three weeks with a strained right hamstring.
Jalen Green and Kenyon Martin Jr. each scored 16 points in Houston, with Martin making all seven shots.
Jabari Smith Jr. had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Eric Gordon added 13 points for the Rockets. They dropped five games in a row and suffered their 10th loss in 11 contests.
New Orleans took a 45-22 lead in the first quarter, during which Rockets coach Steven Cyrus was ejected for angrily arguing and gesturing at officials.
The Pelicans led 63-32 thanks to one of Jose Alvarado’s three 3-pointers. New Orleans led 75-52 at the half and 98-73 after the third quarter, and with the Pelicans stagnating in the final period, coach Willie Green had to bring McCallum and Valanciunas back into the game with New Orleans 7:41. I didn’t. 18 up.
However, the Rockets continued to close the gap, closing to 115-108 with Josh Christopher’s driving scoop with 47 seconds remaining.
Trey Murphy III and Willie Hernangomez each scored 14 points for New Orleans, giving them the best start at home in franchise history with a 17-4 record. Alvarado finished with 13 points.
tip in
Rockets: Kevin Porter Jr scored 11 points. …all in all he shot 44.3% (39 of 88) and from 3-point range he shot 31.6% (12 of 38). … finished with 41 bench points. … dropped to 4-16 on the street.
Pelicans: F Brandon Ingram has missed 19 straight games with a contused left big toe. … FL Larry Nance Jr. has missed four games in a row with a sore right shoulder. … 13 rocket turnovers he converted into 25 points. … from deep he shot 36.8% (14/38).
next
Rockets: Host Utah on Thursday night.
The Pelicans: Host Brooklyn on Friday Night.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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