The Rockets reversed and won 5 consecutive victories, and VanVleet made a 20+8 contribution! The dark horse of the West fell, Zion 24+8
At 9:00 a.m. Beijing time on November 11, the NBA regular season mid-season championship is in full swing, and the Rockets are at home against the Pelicans. After the Rockets suffered a three-game losing streak in the opening season, the team's chemistry has been formed, and they have won four in a row after their big win over the Lakers last time out, and moved up to sixth in the West with a 4-3 record. Under the leadership of VanVleet and Dillon, Green also played an excellent performance, averaging 19.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, and Green has maintained a three-point shooting rate of more than 45% so far this season, and he has become the top scorer of the Rockets. The Rockets are also among the top 10 in the league in offensive and defensive efficiency, which is a key factor in their achievement.
After the Pelicans lost to the Timberwolves by more than 20 points in the last game due to the intermittent absence of Zion and McCollum, the Pelicans have suffered three straight losses and their record has slipped to 4-4 and is in 8th place in the West. Zion will return for the game against the Rockets, but McCollum continues to be sidelined. Hawkins, a young player, will be worth looking forward to, averaging 12.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game so far this season, and has been the starter in McCollum's place since his absence. However, the main offensive and defensive responsibilities will still fall on the shoulders of Zion and Ingram. The Pelicans are in the bottom 10 of the league in offensive and defensive efficiency so far, and their outside shooting is extremely lacking, so it will be a battle between relatively well-balanced teams. The two sides started the game, with the Pelicans fielding Zion, Ingram, Valanciunas, Daniels and Hawkins. The Rockets have Shin Kyung, Green, VanVleet, Smith Jr. and Dillon Brooks.
In the first quarter of the game, Zion missed 2 free throws in the opening game and was slightly embarrassed. The Rockets' Shin Kyung drifted a shot, and Smith Jr. hit a solid three-point shot. Pelicans Valanciunas scored five points in a row to interrupt the Rockets' offensive rhythm, and Zion also swept away the decline and scored eight points in a row on the basket. Ingram also scored eight points on a burst shot. Rocket Shin Jing scored another 4 points, and VanVleet and Green hit 2 three-pointers to help the team close the point difference. In the final minute, Zion scored four points in a row on the basket, and Holiday hit two free throws, and the first game ended, and the Pelicans led the Rockets by five points at 31-26.
In the second quarter of the game, only Zion scored through 2 free throws in the first 2 minutes of the game, and the Rockets Ethan dunked in the air to break the deadlock. VanVleet hit a three-point shot from the outside, Dillon broke through to make it 2+1, and the Rockets overtook the score in one fell swoop. The Pelicans Valanciunas scored four straight points on a basket, and Ingram scored on a breakaway basket. The Rockets' offense was in a hot state, with more blossoms, Shen Jing scored 4 points in a row, VanVleet broke through, and Holiday continued to firepower on the outside, playing a wave of 15-0 small climax. Fortunately, in the last 2 minutes, Zion and Ingram made a force and scored 8 points together to close the difference. At halftime, the Pelicans trailed the Rockets by six points, 48-54.
Halftime stats: Ingram had 16 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists. Zion had 18 points and two rebounds. Valanciunas had 11 points and five rebounds. On the Rockets' side, Jalen Green had 14 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist. Shin Kyung had 12 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist. VanVleet had 8 points and 4 assists.
In the second half, Hawkins hit three three-pointers from the outside and scored 11 points in a row to help the Pelicans equalize. After the Rockets scored with Green and Shin Jing's breakthrough, the feeling began to decline. Pelicans Ingram, Daniels attacked the basket successfully, Rockets Smith Jr. played 2+1 in time, Shen Jing turned around in the second half and scored with a hook hand, and Tate followed up the score on the outside and was equalized. At the critical moment, Ingram scored four points in a row, and Zion and Daniels broke through in a row to cause damage and regain the lead. At the end of the third quarter, the Pelicans led the Rockets by nine points, 79-70.
In the final quarter of the game, Robinson hit a solid three-point shot and scored five points in a row. Rocket VanVleet and Jalen Green broke through one after another, veteran Jeff Green made a basket to make it 2+1, and Dillon made another 2+1, narrowing the difference to 4 points in one fell swoop. Pelicans Valanciunas scored a basket, Zion cut and dunked, and Ingram made a three-pointer from the outside to stabilize the advantage. Wave after wave, Rocket Dillon hit an outside three-point shot, and Jalen Green made a kill difference to 2 points.
It was Ingram's outside three-pointer again, Shen Jing hit two free throws at the critical moment, and VanVleet hit two three-pointers in the last minute to lead by 1 point. The Pelicans used foul play, and VanVleet hit 2 free throws. In the last 3 seconds, the Rockets used foul tactics, and Nance Jr. made 1 of 2 free throws. With Jalen Green hitting 2 free throws, the Pelicans did not take a timeout, and the game ended, and the Rockets reversed the Pelicans 104-101 to win by 10 points!
In the game, Ingram scored 31 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists on 11-of-24 shooting. Zion had 24 points and eight rebounds. Valanciunas had 15 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists. On the Rockets' side, Jalen Green finished with 25 points and four rebounds on 7-of-18 shooting. Shin Jing had 24 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. VanVleet had 20 points, 3 rebounds and 8 assists. Dillon had 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block.