Houston rockets vs new Orleans pelicans match player stats
The houston rockets vs new orleans pelicans match player stats tell the story of one of the closest games between these teams during the 2025-26 season. Houston defeated New Orleans 107-105 at Toyota Center in a game that came down to the final seconds. Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 32 points, while Dejounte Murray produced a spectacular 35-point performance for New Orleans. The Pelicans shot 44 percent from the field and made 13 of 32 three-point attempts, but Houston’s rebounding advantage, late-game execution, and timely scoring were enough to secure the two-point victory.
The game was particularly interesting because the box score does not simply show a comfortable Houston victory. New Orleans actually shot better from the field and from three-point range. Murray was extremely efficient, Zion Williamson finished 7 of 10 from the field, and Trey Murphy III created seven assists. Houston, however, controlled several of the possession-level details that often decide a game this tight.
The Rockets finished with 52 rebounds compared with 48 for the Pelicans, recorded 25 assists compared with 19, and committed one fewer turnover. Those small differences mattered because neither team separated itself by more than a few possessions for most of the contest.
Houston ultimately won 107-105, moving its record to 41-25 while New Orleans fell to 22-46. The Rockets also moved ahead 2-1 in the season series after three meetings.
Game overview and final score
The matchup took place at Toyota Center in Houston, where 18,055 fans attended.
| Category | New Orleans Pelicans | Houston Rockets |
| Final score | 105 | 107 |
| Record after game | 22-46 | 41-25 |
| Road/Home record | 9-25 away | 23-8 home |
| Field goals | 37-84 | 40-94 |
| Field-goal percentage | 44% | 43% |
| Three-pointers | 13-32 | 14-41 |
| Three-point percentage | 41% | 34% |
| Free throws | 18-26 | 13-17 |
| Free-throw percentage | 69% | 76% |
| Rebounds | 48 | 52 |
| Assists | 19 | 25 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 12 |
| Steals | 7 | 8 |
| Blocks | 6 | 8 |
One of the clearest lessons from the numbers is that Houston did not win because it was dramatically more accurate.
In fact, New Orleans had the better overall field-goal percentage and a much better three-point percentage. The Pelicans made 40.6 percent of their three-point attempts, compared with 34.1 percent for Houston.
Instead, the Rockets generated more attempts, collected more rebounds, moved the ball more effectively, and made the crucial plays late.
That is exactly the kind of game where looking only at the final score can hide what actually happened.
houston rockets vs new orleans pelicans match player stats: Houston leaders
Kevin Durant was Houston’s leading scorer with 32 points.
He shot 13 of 24 from the field, good for 54.2 percent, and added 3 of 7 from three-point range. He also contributed six rebounds and five assists.
Durant’s efficiency was particularly important because Houston needed a dependable half-court scoring option late in the game. His 32 points came without a high volume of free throws, as he attempted only four.
His final line:
- 32 points
- 6 rebounds
- 5 assists
- 13-of-24 field goals
- 3-of-7 three-pointers
- 3-of-4 free throws
- 1 steal
- 1 block
- 1 turnover
The most important part of Durant’s night came at the end. With the game in the balance, he converted the go-ahead shot with seconds remaining. The official NBA recap identifies his late jumper as the decisive moment of the contest.
Amen Thompson’s all-around impact
Amen Thompson finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists.
That was arguably one of the most complete statistical performances of the game because Thompson influenced three major areas at once.
His numbers were:
- 23 points
- 12 rebounds
- 8 assists
- 7-of-15 shooting
- 2-of-3 from three
- 7-of-8 free throws
The 12 rebounds were particularly valuable for Houston. The Rockets finished four rebounds ahead of New Orleans overall, and Thompson’s work on the glass was a major part of that difference.
His eight assists also helped compensate for the absence of Alperen Sengun from the lineup. Rather than functioning purely as a scorer, Thompson helped Houston create shots for other players.
Alperen Sengun’s offensive contribution
Alperen Sengun scored 18 points, adding five rebounds and three assists while shooting 6 of 14 from the field.
His three-point shooting was an unusual feature of the box score. Sengun went 5 of 11 from three, giving Houston another perimeter scoring source.
His line:
- 18 points
- 5 rebounds
- 3 assists
- 6-of-14 field goals
- 5-of-11 three-pointers
- 1-of-2 free throws
That perimeter production helped Houston maintain scoring balance. Durant led the team, Thompson provided an all-around contribution, and Sengun supplied efficient outside shooting.
Jabari Smith Jr. provides timely spacing
Jabari Smith Jr. scored 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting.
He was not especially efficient overall, but his three-point shooting mattered. Smith Jr. made 3 of 10 attempts from beyond the arc and connected on his only free-throw attempt.
His five rebounds and three assists also gave Houston additional contributions outside scoring.
In a game decided by two points, individual efficiency should not be evaluated only through the final shooting percentage. Shot timing matters too. A made three late in a close game can have far greater practical value than a similar basket during a comfortable second quarter.
Houston’s supporting production
Tari Eason recorded four points and eight rebounds, while Dorian Finney-Smith finished without a point but contributed four rebounds and two assists.
Their scoring totals were modest, but the Rockets did not need every rotation player to produce offensively.
Houston’s main offensive burden was carried by Durant, Thompson, Sengun, and Smith Jr., while the rest of the rotation contributed through rebounding, defense, ball movement, and possession work.
That balance helped Houston avoid becoming completely dependent on one scorer.
New Orleans Pelicans player performance
Dejounte Murray was the standout scorer for New Orleans.
He finished with 35 points on 14-of-18 shooting, including 4 of 5 from three-point range. He also grabbed seven rebounds and recorded four assists.
That is an outstanding shooting line.
Murray converted 77.8 percent of his field-goal attempts and 80 percent of his three-point attempts. He was also responsible for much of the Pelicans’ offensive stability throughout the game.
His final statistical line:
- 35 points
- 7 rebounds
- 4 assists
- 14-of-18 field goals
- 4-of-5 three-pointers
- 3-of-5 free throws
- 1 steal
- 2 turnovers
The NBA’s official recap highlighted the efficiency of Murray’s performance and noted that he was playing in his fourth game after returning from a long absence following an Achilles injury.
His performance was not merely a high-scoring night. He was efficient from multiple areas of the floor and consistently gave New Orleans a reliable option when the offense needed a basket.
Zion Williamson remains highly efficient
Zion Williamson scored 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting.
That works out to 70 percent from the field.
He also went 7 of 9 at the free-throw line and added five rebounds, one assist, and two blocks.
Williamson’s efficiency was one of the most important positive elements in the Pelicans’ offensive performance.
The problem for New Orleans was not that Zion failed to score efficiently. Instead, the Pelicans needed more production from several of the other rotation players to turn that efficiency into a win.
His final line:
- 21 points
- 5 rebounds
- 1 assist
- 7-of-10 field goals
- 7-of-9 free throws
- 2 blocks
- 2 turnovers
Trey Murphy III creates opportunities
Trey Murphy III scored 14 points and added six rebounds and seven assists.
His scoring efficiency was more difficult than Murray’s or Williamson’s. Murphy made 5 of 15 field-goal attempts and 3 of 8 from three.
However, his seven assists were extremely important.
Murphy served as one of New Orleans’ primary connectors, helping move the ball into scoring opportunities for Murray, Williamson, and other Pelicans players.
His seven assists also demonstrate why evaluating a player solely through points can be misleading.
A 14-point performance can still be valuable when it comes with seven assists and six rebounds.
Herbert Jones impacts the game despite poor shooting
Herbert Jones had one of the more unusual statistical lines of the night.
He scored only eight points on 2-of-12 shooting and made just 1 of 7 three-point attempts.
Yet Jones contributed nine rebounds, three assists, three steals, and strong defensive activity.
His plus-minus was positive, according to the official box score.
This is an important reminder when examining player stats: offensive efficiency is only one part of a player’s total contribution.
Jones struggled to convert shots, but his rebounding and defensive plays helped New Orleans stay competitive.
Karlo Matkovic’s perfect shooting
Karlo Matkovic provided an efficient contribution off the Pelicans’ rotation.
He scored eight points while going 3 of 3 from the field and 2 of 2 from three-point range.
He also added four rebounds and two assists.
Although his volume was limited, the efficiency stands out. Matkovic did not waste possessions and gave New Orleans useful production in limited opportunities.
Full player stats breakdown
Houston Rockets
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT |
| Kevin Durant | 32 | 6 | 5 | 13-24 | 3-7 | 3-4 |
| Amen Thompson | 23 | 12 | 8 | 7-15 | 2-3 | 7-8 |
| Alperen Sengun | 18 | 5 | 3 | 6-14 | 5-11 | 1-2 |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | 16 | 5 | 3 | 6-16 | 3-10 | 1-1 |
| Tari Eason | 4 | 8 | 0 | 2-11 | 0-4 | 0-0 |
| Dorian Finney-Smith | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0-3 | 0-3 | 0-0 |
The Rockets’ top four scorers accounted for 89 points.
That represents more than 83 percent of Houston’s 107 points.
The pattern tells us something important about the Rockets’ offensive structure in this game. The team had a concentrated scoring core, but that core was diversified across different roles.
Durant handled high-level shot creation. Thompson contributed as a scorer, rebounder, and passer. Sengun stretched the floor with three-point shooting. Smith Jr. added perimeter scoring and secondary playmaking.
New Orleans Pelicans
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT |
| Dejounte Murray | 35 | 7 | 4 | 14-18 | 4-5 | 3-5 |
| Zion Williamson | 21 | 5 | 1 | 7-10 | 0-0 | 7-9 |
| Trey Murphy III | 14 | 6 | 7 | 5-15 | 3-8 | 1-2 |
| Herbert Jones | 8 | 9 | 3 | 2-12 | 1-7 | 3-5 |
| Karlo Matkovic | 8 | 4 | 2 | 3-3 | 2-2 | 0-0 |
| Jeremiah Fears | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3-9 | 3-5 | 0-0 |
| Saddiq Bey | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2-11 | 0-4 | 1-1 |
| Yves Missi | 5 | 7 | 0 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 3-4 |
New Orleans received its biggest offensive contributions from Murray and Williamson, while Murphy supplied important playmaking.
The challenge was that several other players struggled to score efficiently.
Saddiq Bey shot 2 of 11. Herbert Jones shot 2 of 12. Jeremiah Fears finished 3 of 9.
That uneven offensive distribution became significant in a game where the final margin was only two points.
Why the Rockets won despite shooting a lower percentage
This is probably the most useful analytical question in the entire box score.
Houston shot 43 percent from the field.
New Orleans shot 44 percent.
The Pelicans also had the better three-point percentage, 41 percent compared with 34 percent for Houston.
So why did Houston win?
The answer is possession quality.
1. Houston generated more field-goal attempts
The Rockets attempted 94 field goals.
The Pelicans attempted 84.
That is a 10-shot difference.
Even though Houston was less efficient, having 10 additional attempts creates more scoring opportunities.
The Rockets made 40 field goals compared with 37 for New Orleans.
That three-basket difference helped offset the Pelicans’ better shooting percentage.
2. Houston won the rebounding battle
Houston finished with 52 rebounds.
New Orleans had 48.
The four-rebound advantage may appear small, but in a two-point game every extra possession matters.
Amen Thompson led Houston with 12 rebounds, while Tari Eason collected eight.
For New Orleans, Herbert Jones led the team with nine rebounds.
3. Houston moved the ball more effectively
The Rockets recorded 25 assists.
New Orleans recorded 19.
That six-assist difference indicates that Houston created more assisted scoring opportunities.
It also helps explain why four Rockets players reached double figures.
4. Houston protected the ball slightly better
The Rockets committed 12 turnovers.
The Pelicans committed 13.
Again, the difference is only one possession.
But the final margin was two points.
In a close game, one extra possession can become decisive.
5. Free-throw efficiency favored Houston
Houston made 13 of 17 free throws, or about 76 percent.
New Orleans made 18 of 26, or about 69 percent.
New Orleans attempted nine more free throws and made five more free throws overall, but Houston converted at the higher rate.
The Pelicans’ free-throw volume helped keep the game close, while Houston’s efficiency prevented those opportunities from becoming an even larger advantage.
The fourth-quarter battle
The fourth quarter was where the game became particularly compelling.
New Orleans scored 33 points in the final period.
Houston scored 27.
On the surface, that looks like a clear advantage for the Pelicans.
And it was.
New Orleans erased Houston’s earlier lead and entered the closing moments with a chance to win.
The Rockets had led through the first half, with a 28-24 advantage after the opening quarter and a 57-49 lead at halftime.
The third quarter was even, with both teams scoring 23.
Then New Orleans exploded for 33 in the fourth.
That comeback changed the shape of the game.
Houston needed a late response rather than simply protecting a comfortable advantage.
That response came from its best players.
Jabari Smith Jr. hit a key three-pointer, setting up the final sequence. Durant then delivered the decisive jumper with seconds remaining. The official NBA recap describes the sequence as the moment that allowed Houston to survive the Pelicans’ late push.
The final possession sequence
The closing sequence is important because it shows how the box score and game context connect.
New Orleans had a chance to protect a one-point lead late.
Murray was involved in the final possessions, but a turnover gave Houston an opportunity.
Durant then created the go-ahead basket.
New Orleans was not finished.
After Houston went ahead, the Pelicans still had a chance to tie or win. Murray intentionally missed a free throw in the final seconds, and Trey Murphy III secured the rebound.
Murphy then attempted a long three-point shot at the buzzer.
It missed.
Houston escaped with the 107-105 victory.
The official play-by-play records Murphy’s final missed 28-foot fadeaway attempt and the final score.
That ending is a good example of why traditional player statistics should be combined with play-by-play information when analyzing a close NBA game.
A player can dominate for 47 minutes and still have the result determined by a handful of possessions in the final minute.
Comparing the biggest individual performances
The clearest statistical comparison is between Kevin Durant and Dejounte Murray.
Murray scored 35 points.
Durant scored 32.
Murray was more efficient from the field, shooting 14 of 18 compared with Durant’s 13 of 24.
Murray also made four three-pointers on five attempts.
Durant made three on seven attempts.
Yet Durant’s final impact was tied directly to the winning possession.
This does not mean that one player’s entire performance can be reduced to a single shot.
Murray had a spectacular game and kept New Orleans in position to win.
Durant had an excellent game and produced the deciding offensive play.
Both facts can be true at the same time.
The same principle applies to Amen Thompson.
His 23 points were not the team’s highest total outside Durant, but his 12 rebounds and eight assists gave him one of the most complete statistical profiles of the night.
The importance of shot distribution
Another useful lesson from this game is the difference between shot quality and shot quantity.
New Orleans attempted 84 field goals and Houston attempted 94.
The Pelicans shot better, but Houston’s larger volume helped it score 107 points.
This is why a shooting percentage comparison alone does not explain a basketball game.
Houston’s 40 made field goals came from 94 attempts.
New Orleans made 37 from 84.
The Rockets made three more field goals while attempting 10 additional shots.
That combination of extra attempts and rebounding helped Houston survive a less efficient shooting night.
Three-point shooting tells another story
The Pelicans were clearly more accurate from long range.
New Orleans:
- 13 of 32
- 40.6 percent
Houston:
- 14 of 41
- 34.1 percent
Interestingly, Houston made one more three-pointer despite attempting nine more.
That meant the Rockets gained only a modest advantage from made threes, while New Orleans gained a significant efficiency advantage.
Murray was especially effective, going 4 of 5 from deep.
Karlo Matkovic was perfect from three at 2 of 2.
Jeremiah Fears made 3 of 5.
For Houston, Durant went 3 of 7, Thompson went 2 of 3, and Sengun made 5 of 11.
Sengun’s five made threes were particularly notable because they represented a large part of his 18-point total.
Rebounding was a quiet deciding factor
The four-rebound Houston advantage is easy to overlook because it was not dramatic.
But the difference becomes more meaningful when combined with the shooting volume.
Houston had 52 rebounds to New Orleans’ 48.
Amen Thompson’s 12 rebounds were the highest total in the game.
Tari Eason added eight.
Kevin Durant collected six.
On the New Orleans side, Herbert Jones had nine and Yves Missi had seven.
The Rockets’ rebounding edge helped them create additional possessions and limited the consequences of their lower shooting efficiency.
This is one reason box-score analysis should always examine possessions, not just points.
What the game says about both teams
The game revealed two very different paths to offensive success.
New Orleans relied heavily on individual efficiency.
Murray was outstanding.
Williamson was extremely efficient.
Murphy created opportunities for teammates.
Houston used a broader combination of scoring, rebounding, passing, and possession control.
Durant delivered the primary scoring punch, while Thompson affected multiple areas.
That contrast explains why the final score was so close despite Houston’s stronger record.
The Pelicans were capable of producing high-efficiency offense from their best players.
The Rockets were able to absorb periods of inefficient shooting because they generated more attempts and created more opportunities through rebounding and passing.
Season series context
The March meeting was the third game of the season series.
Houston won the first matchup 133-128 on December 19.
New Orleans responded with a 119-110 victory on January 19.
Houston then won 107-105 in the March meeting.
That left Houston ahead 2-1 in the season series at that stage.
The three games also demonstrate how different individual matchups can produce very different offensive environments.
The first meeting produced 261 combined points.
The second produced 229.
The third produced 212.
The March contest was therefore the lowest-scoring of the three, despite still containing several elite individual scoring performances.
What to look for when reading player stats
For fans searching for individual numbers, the most useful approach is to look beyond the scoring column.
Here are the most important categories to check.
Points
Points show who carried the scoring load, but they do not measure efficiency.
Murray’s 35 points were particularly impressive because he needed only 18 field-goal attempts.
Shooting percentage
Shooting percentage provides context for scoring volume.
Murray’s 14-of-18 performance tells a very different story from a player who scores 30 points on 25 attempts.
Three-point shooting
Three-point numbers show how teams created spacing and efficient scoring.
New Orleans shot 41 percent from three, while Houston shot 34 percent.
Rebounds
Rebounds reveal second-chance opportunities and defensive possessions.
Thompson’s 12 boards were a major part of Houston’s overall rebounding advantage.
Assists
Assists help show how much players contributed to team offense.
Thompson’s eight assists and Murphy’s seven were among the most important playmaking numbers in the game.
Turnovers
Turnovers are especially important in close games.
Houston committed 12.
New Orleans committed 13.
The one-possession difference mattered because the final margin was only two points.
A practical way to analyze close NBA games
If you are studying player statistics for fantasy basketball, betting research, historical analysis, or simply trying to understand why a team won, use a five-step process.
First, identify the leading scorers.
Second, compare shooting efficiency.
Third, examine rebounds and field-goal attempts.
Fourth, compare assists and turnovers.
Finally, review the fourth-quarter and final-minute sequence.
This method prevents one statistic from dominating the analysis.
For this matchup, looking only at scoring would make Murray appear to have had the larger offensive night.
Looking at the entire box score shows that Houston received more from Thompson as a rebounder and passer, while Durant ultimately delivered the deciding basket.
Key takeaways from the matchup
Several conclusions stand out from the numbers.
Kevin Durant was Houston’s leading scorer. He finished with 32 points and made the decisive late jumper.
Dejounte Murray produced the highest scoring total. His 35 points came on 14-of-18 shooting.
Amen Thompson delivered an all-around performance. His 23 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists made him one of the most statistically complete players on the floor.
New Orleans shot more efficiently. The Pelicans finished at 44 percent from the field and 41 percent from three.
Houston controlled volume and possessions. The Rockets attempted 10 more field goals, collected four more rebounds, recorded six more assists, and committed one fewer turnover.
The fourth quarter belonged to New Orleans. The Pelicans scored 33 points compared with Houston’s 27.
Houston executed better at the finish. A late Smith three and Durant jumper helped turn a late Pelicans advantage into a two-point Rockets victory.
The season series stood at 2-1 for Houston. The result followed a 133-128 Houston win and a 119-110 New Orleans win earlier in the season.
Why the box score matters for fans
A detailed box score is useful because it answers several questions at once.
It shows who scored.
It shows who created shots.
It shows who controlled the glass.
It shows whether a team won through efficiency or volume.
It also helps identify performances that may be overlooked by a basic scoring summary.
Herbert Jones is a good example.
His eight points do not sound significant next to Murray’s 35 or Durant’s 32.
But Jones also recorded nine rebounds and three steals.
Likewise, Thompson’s 23 points do not immediately explain his overall value. His eight assists and 12 rebounds provide a much clearer picture.
This is why serious player analysis should treat the box score as a collection of connected statistics rather than a simple list of scoring totals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the leading scorer in the Rockets vs Pelicans game?
Dejounte Murray led all players with 35 points for New Orleans. Kevin Durant led Houston with 32 points.
What was the final score between Houston and New Orleans?
The Houston Rockets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 107-105.
How many points did Kevin Durant score?
Kevin Durant scored 32 points, shooting 13 of 24 from the field and 3 of 7 from three-point range.
How many points did Dejounte Murray score?
Dejounte Murray scored 35 points on 14-of-18 shooting, including 4 of 5 from three-point range.
Who had the most rebounds in the game?
Amen Thompson led all players with 12 rebounds for Houston.
Who had the most assists?
Amen Thompson led the Rockets with eight assists, while Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with seven.
Conclusion
The houston rockets vs new orleans pelicans match player stats reveal a game that was much closer and more strategically interesting than the final record gap might suggest.
New Orleans produced the more efficient shooting performance. Murray was exceptional, Williamson finished efficiently, and Murphy provided seven assists. The Pelicans also made 13 three-pointers at a 40.6 percent rate.
Houston won through a different combination of strengths.
The Rockets attempted more shots, grabbed more rebounds, recorded more assists, committed fewer turnovers, and received a complete performance from Amen Thompson. Durant then provided the defining moment with his late go-ahead basket.
The final numbers tell the same story as the game itself: New Orleans had enough individual production to win, but Houston did a little more with its possessions.
The 107-105 result therefore stands as a useful example of why basketball analysis should go beyond the leading scorer. Efficiency, volume, rebounding, playmaking, turnovers, and late-game execution all contributed to the final result.
For readers examining the houston rockets vs new orleans pelicans match player stats, the biggest takeaway is simple: the two-point margin was the product of many small statistical differences, with Houston’s possession advantages ultimately balancing New Orleans’ superior shooting efficiency.
