In mid-November, the New Orleans Pelicans watched their double-digit second-half lead against the Houston Rockets get washed away.
The Pelicans squandered a winnable game with late turnovers. It was one of the seven games they have lost this season after leading by 10 points or more.
On Saturday, the Pelicans faced the Rockets for the first time since that game and appeared to be in prime position to exact revenge, but miscues down the stretch cost them again. New Orleans fell to Houston 106-104 at Smoothie King Center.
The Pelicans have a 17-13 record at the 30-game mark. They are 9-6 at Smoothie King Center, where they play their next four games.
“It came down to our ability to execute at the end of the game," Pelicans coach Willie Green said. "Much like it did in Houston. "We have to stop turning the ball over and start making free throws.”
New Orleans had a five-point lead going into the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, its offense ran dry. Houston outscored New Orleans 28-20 in the final 12 minutes.
With less than one minute to go, the Pelicans got the ball to Zion Williamson. He tried to make a play, but his shoe popped off. He committed a turnover, which the Rockets converted into a transition dunk to move ahead by four points.
Williamson scored 28 points on 11-of-16 shooting. He poured in 18 of those points before halftime. Williamson had to do heavy lifting for the Pelicans offensively on a night when not many of his teammates had a rhythm.
“Turnovers," Williamson said. "We got to execute, and we can’t have those turnovers. We had three late in the game. It’s going to be hard to win like that.”
Forward Herb Jones scored six points on 2-of-8 shooting. Jonas Valanciunas had 10 points, but he fouled out in 26 minutes.
Valanciunas picked up his sixth foul with 4:06 remaining. Pelicans two-way player Jeremiah Robinson-Earl came into the game to defend Alperen Sengun.
Sengun, who scored a game-high 37 points, dominated. His dunk with eight seconds left clinched the game for the Rockets.
"He just kicked our butts, to be honest with you," Green said of Sengun. "He shot 17 free throws. His gamesmanship is off the charts. You throw it to him in the post, and he makes solid plays. He makes simple plays. He's a great passer. He has that spin move. He took over in the fourth quarter."
CJ McCollum scored a tip-in layup with two seconds left to cut the Rockets’ lead to two points, but by that point, it was too late for the Pelicans.
New Orleans shot 8 of 31 from 3-point territory, and it went 20 of 29 at the free-throw line. The combination of missed outside shots and missed free throws cost the Pelicans in a closely contested game. Neither team led by more than seven points at any point.
“They did what they needed to win," Green said. "They were the more physical team. In my opinion, they were more mentally tough down the stretch. Our guys, this is a growth moment for us. We will learn from this. We have to be take care of the ball, and we have to make free throws down the stretch.”
The Pelicans don’t play again until Tuesday, when they host the Memphis Grizzlies.