Alperen Sengun scored 22 points, Amen Thompson had 21 points and 11 rebounds and the visiting Houston Rockets ended a three-game losing streak by defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 109-97
Tari Eason scored 20 points, Jabari Smith Jr. had 16 and Dillon Brooks added 14 for the Rockets, who took control by outscoring the Pelicans 33-15 in the third quarter. Houston ended an eight-game road losing streak by winning away from home for the first time since Jan. 28.
Trey Murphy III scored 26 points, but just 11 after the first quarter, to pace the Pelicans, who will visit Houston on Saturday night. Zion Williamson had 20 points and 10 rebounds, CJ McCollum scored 13 and Yves Missi added 10 for New Orleans.
The Pelicans finished with 15 turnovers after committing just two while scoring 34 first-quarter points.
The Rockets shot 56.8 percent from the floor to more than offset the Pelicans’ 18-point advantage in free throws.