When the halftime buzzer sounded at the Smoothie King Center on Thursday night, the mood in the building was heavy. The New Orleans Pelicans were down by 22 points, staring at what looked like another forgettable loss in a season already defined by struggle. The Houston Rockets were cruising, Kevin Durant was cooking, and the Pelicans looked lifeless, shooting poorly in the paint and failing to find any rhythm.
But sports, as they say, are rarely scripted.
What unfolded over the next 29 minutes of game time wasn’t just a win; it was a resurrection. Led by a career night from Herb Jones on the defensive end and a scoring explosion from Saddiq Bey, the Pelicans erased a 25-point third-quarter deficit to shock the Rockets 133-128 in overtime, tying a franchise record for the largest comeback in team history.
This wasn’t just about X’s and O’s. It was about heart, grit, and a team that simply refused to lie down when everyone else had already counted them out.
A Tale of Two Halves
The first half was a nightmare for New Orleans. Houston dominated every facet of the game, taking a commanding 67-45 lead into the break. Kevin Durant was his usual unguardable self, pouring in 13 points in the first quarter alone, while the Pelicans couldn’t buy a bucket near the rim, missing 20 of 29 shots in the paint. The energy was flat, the crowd was quiet, and the 6-22 Pelicans looked exactly like their record suggested.
But something shifted in the locker room. Maybe it was frustration, maybe it was pride, or maybe they just decided they had nothing left to lose. Whatever it was, they came out swinging in the second half.
Methodically, they began to chip away. It wasn’t pretty at first, but it was effective. They trimmed the deficit down to 16 entering the fourth quarter, trailing 99-83. It was still a mountain to climb, but for the first time all night, there was a pulse.
The Spark and the Surge
Rookie Derik Queen, who finished with a massive double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds, drilled an 18-foot jumper that seemed to ignite the entire arena. That shot sparked an 11-0 run that pulled the Pelicans within striking distance at 101-96. Suddenly, the impossible felt plausible.
Then there was Herb Jones. “Not on Herb” has become a rallying cry in New Orleans, and Thursday night showed exactly why. Jones was a menace, recording a career-high eight steals. He was everywhere—jumping passing lanes, stripping ball handlers, and turning defense into instant offense. His 18 points were crucial, but his defensive intensity was the engine that powered the comeback.
Bey and Poole Close the Door
With the game hanging in the balance, Saddiq Bey took over. After a quiet first half, Bey erupted for 21 of his season-high 29 points after the break. With just 31 seconds left in regulation, he drove to the basket and converted a finger roll to tie the game at 117, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
The drama spilled into overtime, where the Pelicans finally seized control. Jordan Poole, who had a solid 15-point outing, stepped up to the line with 12 seconds left and coolly sank two free throws to give New Orleans a 131-128 lead.
Houston had one last gasp. Sophomore Reed Sheppard got two good looks from deep in the final seconds but couldn’t convert. Bey grabbed the rebound, headed to the line, and iced the game with two seconds remaining.
Finding Momentum in a Lost Season?
For the Rockets, it was a collapse of epic proportions. Alperen Sengun had a monster line of 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists, but his two missed free throws with 43 seconds left in regulation proved costly. Durant finished with 32, but Houston couldn’t withstand the Pelicans’ second-half avalanche.
For New Orleans, this win means more than just a tick in the victory column. After starting the season 3-22, they’ve now rattled off three straight wins. Nights like this remind you why you watch. They remind you that on any given night, a team can dig deep, find something within themselves, and do something historic.
The Pelicans will look to keep this newfound momentum rolling when they host the Indiana Pacers on Saturday. If they play with the same fire they showed in the second half against Houston, the Smoothie King Center might just start getting loud again.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
