Westbrook's triple-double helps Rockets edge Pelicans 126-123 Saturday night

Posted: October 26, 2019 -- 11:59 p.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets edged the New Orleans Pelicans 126-123 Saturday night in front of a sold-out crowd.

Rockets' guard Russell Westbrook had 28 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds tonight, marking his first triple-double as a Rocket and the 139th of his career. That moves him past Magic Johnson for the second-most in NBA history, trailing only Oscar Robertson's 181.

"It's a blessing," Westbrook remarked. "(I) give nothing but thanks to the man above for allowing me to be able to go out and play and compete. It’s something I never ever take for granted. I know nowadays getting triple-doubles seems normal, but I take pride, I take a lot of energy, a lot of sacrifice, a lot of things I do off the floor to prepare myself to be able to compete every single night and play at a high level. For me that's a great accomplishment, especially growing up and never even thinking I would be playing in the NBA. Now I'm being able to be in the history books. It’s a blessing and really something I don't take for granted."

The game featured 16 lead changes and was tied 14 times.

Houston trailed New Orleans 100-97 after three periods. However, Westbrook keyed an 8-0 spurt to begin the fourth quarter for a 105-100 Houston lead. Westbrook began the spurt with a driving layup and free throw; then, he assisted on a P.J. Tucker three-point basket. Next, Westbrook picked up and steal and finished with a slam dunk.

The Rockets led by as much as 7 points three times in the final period; but, the Pelicans refused to go away.

New Orleans pulled within 3 points when Pelicans' forward Brandon Ingram dunked to cut Houston's lead to 121-118. But, James Harden converted a three-point play to push the margin back to six (124-118) with 2:03 remaining in the game.

Josh Hart sank a three-point shot to slice Houston's lead to three once again. Harden missed a 7-foot floater and a 15-foot turnaround jumper. Then, after Kenrich Williams' three-point shot attempt rolled out, Westbrook dribbled down the shot clock before attacking the paint.

Westbrook's 8-foot floater rolled off the rim; and, Hart rebounded the miss. The Pelicans called timeout to set up a play. After the timeout, guard JJ Redick got a good look at a three-point shot; but, Redick missed the shot.

Tucker rebounded the miss and passed to Harden. Harden dribbled to midcourt and was double-teamed. Harden tried to draw a foul; however, he lost the ball; and, Hart stole the ball and scored a layup to cut Houston's lead to 124-123 with 11.4 seconds remaining.

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Rockets' Head Coach Mike D'Antoni called timeout. After the timeout, Westbrook received the inbounds pass and raced up the court before the Pelicans fouled him with 6.1 seconds remaining in the game. Westbrook made both foul shots.

The Pelicans called timeout. After the stoppage, Josh Hart attempted a game-tying three-point shot and missed to end the ball game.

After the game, Harden said of Westbrook, "He took over that game in the fourth quarter. He did what he did."

Harden scored 29 points in the game; however, he made only 8 of 29 field goals including 2 for 18 three-point shots. He also had a game-high 8 turnovers.

"You can't give them opportunities and turn the basketball over, which I did a little bit too much," Harden acknowledged.

The most important thing to Harden is the Rockets won the ball game.

"I'm going to take whatever they give me," Harden said of his shots. "I'm going to take as many shots as they give me. I was in there yesterday working on that same shot, and this morning working on that same shot, and just tonight it didn't fall. But the most important thing is that we got a win. I think we locked in defensively when we needed to get stops and it's all going to come together, it's only game two."

Mike D'Antoni wasn't thrilled with the Rockets' defense Saturday night.

"Specifically, I mean there was a lot of stuff. We just weren't into them again; I mean we have that tendency. But, they were super fast. They kept coming at us. We would go up 10; and, then, we would kind of relax. But, you can't do that. You know, we're not real sharp right now; and, you have to gut these things out.

"We did gut it out and the positive is that we won; and, we go on to the next one. And, try to get a little bit better. But, we’ve just have to be a little tougher. That might just come with the season and come with the games. I'm sure a lot of teams are saying the same thing; but, when we're up 10, we've got to go up 12 and keep it there. But, that comes from our defensive end."

Next for the Rockets is a home game versus the Oklahoma City this Monday, October 28, at 7 p.m.

NOTES:

The Rockets won despite having 13 3-point field goals made while the Pelicans made 18 threes. The largest negative three-point field goals made differential for Houston last season was four, set twice. The Rockets shot 28.9% from 3-point range tonight. Houston was 3-12 when shooting below 30.0% from behind-the-arc last season.

P.J. Tucker scored 16 points Saturday night after scoring 17 points in the opener vs. Milwaukee. It's the first time he has scored 15 or more points in consecutive games as a Rocket and the seventh time in his career (last for Phoenix from November 27 to November 30, 2016). Houston was 17-6 when he scored in double-figures last season.

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