Rockets fend off short-handed Pelicans

The Pelicans had hung around longer than seemed possible or James Harden could stand.

With 7 ½ minutes left on Monday, Harden had 22 points, making 1 of 9 3-pointers. That did not offer much of a warning to what would come, though the past years might have offered a clue.

In the next two minutes, Harden rolled through a 13-0 run, driving the Rockets to a 17-point lead and past the Pelicans 122-116 Monday in Smoothie King Center.

Harden had 39 points, 19 in the fourth quarter, with nine assists despite making just 3 of 11 3-pointers. The Rockets made just 12 of 41 3-pointers with their missed 3s and 19 turnovers often triggering the New Orleans offense enough to keep the Pelicans in the game.

Russell Westbrook added 26 points with the Rockets getting a much-needed lift off the bench from Eric Gordon, who made 4 of 7 3s to score 17 points. Clint Capela had 20 rebounds for a second consecutive game, the fourth-straight he has set or matched his season high.

J.J. Redick led the Pelicans with 24 points, hitting 7 of 15 3-pointers.

The Pelicans did what they typically do, especially through the first half, even if much of their usual firepower was lost when Brandon Ingram was a late scratch before tip with Lonzo Ball already out. They played fast. They turned the ball over a lot. And they fired up 3s, with Redick making sure they knocked down their share.

The Rockets’ issues however, were on the other end where they struggled to knock down the shots the Pelicans left open for them to take.

With the Pelicans shading an extra defender in Harden’s path, the Rockets put up 19 3-pointers in the first half. They made four. The starters made just one of 12 3-pointers and lost Danuel House Jr. to a bruised back after he took a hard foul in the first quarter.

The Rockets still led by as much as 11 and took a 58-52 lead into the second half. But with Harden slowed and the 3-pointers missing, they could not shake the Pelicans.

With 3 ½ minutes left in the third quarter, the Pelicans were within four. Even when the Rockets rebuilt their 11-point and briefly pushed it to 13 on a Westbrook steal and dunk, the Rockets misfired long enough for Redick to bring the Pelicans back to within four.

With that, Harden hit the Pelicans with one blast of scoring to put the game away.