Zion Williamson scores 26 as Pelicans beat Rockets 119-106

Updated Nov. 12, 2022 11:12 p.m. ET

Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Zion Williamson scored 26 points and Brandon Ingram iced the game with six points in a 13-0 run in the final 2:07 to power the New Orleans Pelicans to a 119-106 victory over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.

The Pelicans led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter only to fall behind by eight early in the fourth quarter. Kevin Porter Jr. tied the game at 106 with 2:58 left, but New Orleans scored the game’s final 13 points.

Jose Alvarado came off the bench to spark the Pelicans’ rally with 12 points, five assists and three steals, and Larry Nance Jr. added 22. Ingram finished with 20.

Houston was paced by Jalen Green with 33 points and Porter with 23 points.

The Rockets trailed 78-60 after Herb Jones made a layup with 7:24 left in the third quarter, but they closed the period on a 27-6 run before a final layup by Nance to take an 87-86 lead into the final quarter. Green was the catalyst with 13 points in the run, including three 3-pointers.

Williamson went 4-of-4 from the field in a 13-point first half and dished out four assists as the Pelicans built an 18-point, second-quarter lead and coasted to a 63-50 halftime edge. Larry Nance Jr. came off the bench to score 12 points in 12 minutes, including 3-pointers from the left and right corners. Ingram added 11 points in the half.

The Rockets stayed within striking distance by outrebounding the Pelicans 23-13 in the first half, but they committed 11 turnovers to blunt their offensive effectiveness. Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green had 14 points each in the first half.

UP NEXT

Rockets: Host the LA Clippers on Monday after playing 10 of their first 13 on the road.

Pelicans: Host Memphis on Tuesday in the third of six consecutive home games.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports