HOUSTON — In the midpoint of a three-game homestand at Toyota Center, the Rockets couldn’t survive an unusually poor night by big man Alperen Sengun in Wednesday night’s 110-99 loss (box score) to the Pelicans. With the win, New Orleans (27-21) defeated Houston (22-25) for the first time in three tries this season.
Sengun, an All-Star candidate, had 10 points and 10 rebounds but shot just 4-of-11 from the field (36.4%). Making matters worse, his opponent — bruising big man Jonas Valanciunas of the Pelicans — was dominant with 25 points (66.7% FG) and 14 rebounds.
Still, the Rockets kept it competitive and came within a possession midway through the second half thanks to another spectacular game from a resurgent Jalen Green. The third-year guard finished with 31 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks, shooting 11-of-20 from the field (55.0%) and 5-of-12 on 3-pointers (41.7%).
In his last five outings, Green is averaging a team-high 29.8 points per game while shooting 51.5% overall and 35.5% on 3-pointers.
Rookie guard Cam Whitmore added 17 points and 2 steals in 20 minutes off the bench, shooting 6-of-12 overall (50.0%) and 3-of-7 on 3-pointers (42.9%). But that wasn’t nearly enough when Valanciunas and the Pelicans bullied Sengun and the Rockets on the glass, with a commanding 56-29 rebounding margin proving decisive.
Making matters worse, Rockets outside of Green and Whitmore only connected on 5-of-25 from 3-point range (20.0%). Jabari Smith Jr., making just his second start since returning from an ankle injury, didn’t score and missed all four of his 3-pointers. He had just 1 rebound in 22 minutes and was a team-worst -19 over that time.
Brandon Ingram added 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Pelicans, who were without Zion Williamson and Herbert Jones on Wednesday due to injuries. Tari Eason again sat out for the Rockets.
Here’s our look at Wednesday’s highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. As the homestand concludes, next up for the Rockets is Friday’s matchup versus the Toronto Raptors (17-30). Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Central.
Jan. 31 Rockets-Pelicans reaction
Oh, Jalen Green is showing off now. pic.twitter.com/fg4hpnFrFA
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 1, 2024
Jalen Green in his last 5 #Rockets games: 29.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 52% FG, 36% on 3s
Just a remarkable stretch https://t.co/YRPFv0Mf4j
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 1, 2024
Jeff, Aaron, and Jabari:
0 points | 2 assists | 2 rebounds
0/13 from the field— winston #the6foot5 (@the6foot5) February 1, 2024
Trade rumor jalen green pic.twitter.com/5dssL5uEKF
— Apathetic (@ftank58) February 1, 2024
Overall, I'm not too upset about this loss.
Sengun and Smith are 2 of the most reliable sub 22 year old players that exist, but they're gonna show their age sometimes, like tonight.
The process was good. We got further reassurance about Jalen Green and Cam Whitmore. We move.
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) February 1, 2024
Rockets lose to the Pelicans by double digits.
Jalen Green was amazing and Cam and Amen were strong off the bench, but they were the only ones who came to play and didnt get enough PT. Awful Sengun and Jabari games.
Rockets kept on missing great shots all match. Young team, etc
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) February 1, 2024
Jalen Green can see the Matrix now! #Rockets pic.twitter.com/x6BvZXGYjX
— Chris A. White 🐻 (@fyrebear) February 1, 2024
Jalen has done like 5 things I’ve never seen him do
— Madison Moore (@MadManLeaks) February 1, 2024
Jalen been excellent defensively. Like what’s going on
— Madison Moore (@MadManLeaks) February 1, 2024
In the last 15 games Rockets have been the worst 3 point shooting team in the nba .. that’s a 3rd of the season pic.twitter.com/tcdi1LPZFM
— Apathetic (@ftank58) February 1, 2024
Sengun had been so bad tonight smh
— Madison Moore (@MadManLeaks) February 1, 2024
Jalen Green continues the #UntradeableTour with 31/4/4 on good efficiency.
Lack of shooting (13/44, 29.5%) and getting crushed on the glass (56-29) were huge issues.
Alperen Sengun struggled, too much Valanciunas, and the #Rockets desperately need a backup big man solution. pic.twitter.com/XXDUwCBjU1
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) February 1, 2024
Games like this really highlight the Rockets need for another center. Sengun goes to the bench and they have no one who can handle Valanciunas
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 1, 2024
Sengun missed 3 easy layups and an open baby hook he usually makes, thats 8 points
The Rockets are down 8
This to say, you live with Sengun’s defense, but he has to be awesome on offense
— Paulo Alves (@PauloAlvesNBA) February 1, 2024
The regression to the mean Sengun game was due eventually
He’s been awesome for too long
— Paulo Alves (@PauloAlvesNBA) February 1, 2024
JV: [Sengun is] young and talented… but I got to do my job too
Reporter: You look like you did your job
JV: You tell me 😅 pic.twitter.com/X54OEl805W
— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) February 1, 2024
#Rockets are gonna lose this game. But the takeaway from me is Jalen Green's performance was great and the arrow is up 📈
— Chris A. White 🐻 (@fyrebear) February 1, 2024
CAM WHITMORE, ARE YOU SERIOUS? pic.twitter.com/b89v3J1TZX
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 1, 2024
I liked how Jalen passed up the three and took the better shot at the rim…#Growth #Sarge
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) February 1, 2024
Jalen Green is playing like a man possessed. I can assure you he heard the noise and he’s finally deciding he’s had enough of it.
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) February 1, 2024
Ime Udoka frustrated with the lack of consistency from his guys.
The Rockets won back-to-back games just once in January (1/1 & 1/3.)
"We're so inconsistent. You don't know which team is going to show up on a night to night basis."
😡😡😡 pic.twitter.com/pLGJER1waa
— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelFOX) February 1, 2024
Maybe it’s because I’ve seen him shoot so many times in warmups but every time Cam Whitmore shoots, I assume it’s going in. Has a really nice 1-2 form.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) February 1, 2024
Former Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni in the house pic.twitter.com/pmzmE32fIu
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 1, 2024
Yeah, this one is done.
Still, I feel better after this game than I did before. If this version of Jalen Green is legitimate, they'll be just fine.
Unusually bad night by Sengun and most of the #Rockets shooters (Jalen/Cam excluded). I'm not worried about either of those things
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 1, 2024
The defense was a mess, so he went to Holiday. Mentioned his last week, but Udoka subs by game flow more than any coach I've covered https://t.co/hjo5UjEVYM
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 1, 2024
Ime Udoka is not enjoying this game. He benched Alperen Sengun at the end of the first half and Jabari Smith Jr after 3 minutes in the second half
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 1, 2024
Alpi is just off tonight, missing easy looks at the rim.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) February 1, 2024
#UntradeableTour https://t.co/9xkHejT3Z2
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) February 1, 2024
Splitting defenders like this is a star-level skill. https://t.co/F9vmA8O1xZ
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) February 1, 2024
#Rockets lose tonight to New Orleans 110-99
Jalen Green 31 PTS / 4 REB / 4 AST / 3 STL / 2 BLK and met with the media after the game pic.twitter.com/WsmemuyAMx
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) February 1, 2024
#Rockets fall to the Pelicans 110-99
Alperen Sengun 10 PTS / 10 REB / 5 AST and met with the media after the game pic.twitter.com/MqRML88rsv
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) February 1, 2024
Last 15 games on “wide open 3s” (defender 6+ feet away)
30. Rockets 31.9%
29. Bulls 33.3%
28. Nets 34.6%
27. Pistons 35.7%The pistons are shooting almost 4% better on these 3s than the Rockets
— Apathetic (@ftank58) February 1, 2024
Jalen Green in the #Rockets loss:
31 PTS
4 REB
4 AST
3 STL
2 BLK11/20 FG
5/12 3PT
4/4 FTAnother impressive game. pic.twitter.com/iLglrsENef
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) February 1, 2024
Alperen Sengun: "We missed a lot of wide open shots at the beginning of the game, and we didn't play hard."
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 1, 2024
Sengun on not being able to carry over Monday's play to tonight: "That shit happens, up and down. That wasn't our day today, but we have a game Friday, so we're gonna play hard and win the game."
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 1, 2024
More Green: "The offense is going to take care of itself at the end of the day, so it's just about locking up on defense." https://t.co/5nzuoDtu8I
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 1, 2024
