03/12/26 01:05:00
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03/12 01:03 CDT Houston faces conference rival New Orleans
Houston faces conference rival New Orleans
By The Associated Press
New Orleans Pelicans (22-45, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Houston
Rockets (40-25, third in the Western Conference)
Houston; Friday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The New Orleans Pelicans take on Kevin Durant and the Houston
Rockets in Western Conference action Friday.
The Rockets are 6-6 against the rest of their division. Houston ranks third in
the Western Conference with 52.4 points per game in the paint led by Alperen
Sengun averaging 13.7.
The Pelicans are 6-7 against the rest of the division. New Orleans is eighth in
the Western Conference scoring 115.6 points per game and is shooting 46.5%.
The Rockets average 114.2 points per game, 5.8 fewer points than the 120.0 the
Pelicans allow. The Pelicans are shooting 46.5% from the field, 0.6% higher
than the 45.9% the Rockets' opponents have shot this season.
The two teams square off for the third time this season. The Rockets defeated
the Pelicans 119-110 in their last meeting on Jan. 19. Jabari Smith Jr. led the
Rockets with 32 points, and Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 21 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Durant is shooting 51.4% and averaging 25.9 points for the
Rockets. Reed Sheppard is averaging 3.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Murphy is averaging 22.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals for
the Pelicans. Saddiq Bey is averaging 20.7 points and 5.2 rebounds over the
last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 6-4, averaging 113.9 points, 47.0 rebounds, 25.4
assists, 7.9 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 49.5% from the
field. Their opponents have averaged 113.0 points per game.
Pelicans: 7-3, averaging 121.0 points, 46.9 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 8.9 steals
and 6.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents
have averaged 116.0 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: Jae'Sean Tate: out (knee), Fred VanVleet: out for season
(acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle), Dorian Finney-Smith: out (ankle).
Pelicans: Bryce McGowens: out (toe).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data
Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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