NEW ORLEANS — The city of New Orleans is known to many as \u201cThe Big Easy\u201d for its culture and relaxed atmosphere that radiates throughout the French Quarter.<\/p>\n
On Thursday night, the Rockets were initially riding those vibes against the Pelicans, as Houston jumped out to a 25-point lead.<\/p>\n
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All-Star forward Kevin Durant didn\u2019t miss a shot until the third quarter, as he finished the first half going 7-for-7 with 18 points. Inside, Alperen Sengun was terrorizing the paint versus the Pelicans\u2019 smaller lineup, and Amen Thompson was all over the court on the offensive and defensive end.<\/p>\n
For Houston, one could say that things were \u201ctoo easy in the Big Easy,\u201d as the visitors jumped out to a 67-45 halftime advantage.<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t last.<\/p>\n
The Pelicans seemingly decided that the Rockets were enjoying their city a little too much and did something about it, as New Orleans went on an 88\u201361 run in the second half and overtime to defeat Houston, 133-128<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n At 3-4, the Rockets (16-8 overall) currently have a losing record in December, and they\u2019ve lost consecutive games for the first time in the 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n In the big picture, Thursday\u2019s second-half performance was very uncharacteristic of how the Rockets have played this season, as they have gone toe-to-toe with some of the NBA\u2019s best teams.<\/p>\n To lose to a team that has not been able to amass more than 10 wins (6-22) this season is embarrassing in itself. Still, it was the manner in which the Pelicans climbed their way back from a double-digit deficit that will have the Rockets players cringing when they watch their second-half performance.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cIn that third quarter, we didn\u2019t play with enough energy or a sense of urgency,\u201d said Durant, who finished with a game-high 32 points. \u201cThey got whatever they wanted. We weren\u2019t playing together, we weren\u2019t swinging the ball, we just relaxed too much, and they hit us in the mouth. We just relaxed and got too cool, like we were there (to the finish line) already. We\u2019ve got to play 48 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n As the Rockets have often seen throughout the season, New Orleans doubled-team Durant throughout the entire second half. By sending two players his way as soon as he crossed halfcourt, the Pelicans refused to let the future Hall of Famer continue his shooting onslaught at the Smoothie King Center.<\/p>\n It is a strategy the Rockets have yet to take advantage of, despite having four players available to attack only three defenders.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got to get him off-ball and get some movement,\u201d Udoka said regarding different strategies to potentially ease some of the pressure from opposing defenses. \u201cIt is a little too stagnant and standing\u2026Teams should be scared with the personnel we have behind him.\u201d<\/p>\n Durant echoed Udoka\u2019s statements regarding how to relieve some of the defensive pressure and play within the flow of the game.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cAt that point, you have to play team ball,\u201d Durant said when asked about New Orleans sending two defenders towards him. \u201cI think we got good looks. We got guys open, and we just didn\u2019t convert. Every possession can\u2019t be about just me trying to get the ball. It is a team game.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know I can score the ball, I know I can make the game, quote, unquote, \u2018easy,\u2019 as people say. But if I am getting trapped at half-court, I am trusting my teammates to make a good play. I feel like we got good looks, we just got to make them.\u201d<\/p>\n More: After officiating criticism, NBA fines Rockets head coach Ime Udoka<\/a><\/p>\n