Rockets (25-22), Pelicans (16-28)
Just when New Orleans was playing its best basketball of the season, the basketball gods intervened in harsh fashion Monday, with two-time Pelicans All-Star forward Anthony Davis exiting the game due to a concussion. Behind big efforts from an array of players, the Pelicans nearly overcame Davis’ injury departure, but ultimately lost a one-point heartbreaker to the Rockets. Three New Orleans reserves delivered significant contributions to help compensate without Davis (19 minutes), but it wasn’t enough as the Pelicans saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. Houston connected on 19 of its 39 three-point attempts and built a lead of as many as 16 points, then hung on in the fourth quarter. James Harden finished with 35 points and drained a critical stepback jumper to give the Rockets a three-point lead with 34 seconds left.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Jrue Holiday took an inbound pass from the defensive end of the floor with 4 seconds left, but was unable to get a clean look at the basket, instead having to force up an off-balance heave at the buzzer that bounded off the backboard. Give credit on the final play to the defense of the Rockets, who made Holiday use up a precious couple seconds dribbling and trying to find a way to squeeze off a shot before the horn.
PELICANS PLAYER OF THE GAME
Holiday may have been New Orleans’ most valuable player on both ends of the floor, scoring consistently and handling a wide range of tough defensive assignments. The reserve guard wound up with a season-high 32 points on 13/21 shooting from the field, along with six rebounds, nine assists and three steals. Defensively, he guarded everyone from multidimensional threat Harden to 6-foot-10 stretch forward Josh Smith, holding his own and helping New Orleans force 17 Houston turnovers.
PELICANS UNSUNG CONTRIBUTOR
Toney Douglas was a whirling dervish for all of his 24 minutes of action, a force off the bench for New Orleans for a second straight game. Douglas notched a season-best 18 points, including going 6/8 from the field and 3/4 on three-pointers. The steady veteran also handed out six assists and made his presence known on defense, playing ruggedly on the ball. He had one steal and one block.
