Jalen Green scores 30 points again as the Rockets defeat the Pelicans and improve to 21-9

The Rockets completed a three-game road trip with a dominant 128-111 (box score) win over the Pelicans. The final result did not indicate the level of dominance, as Houston led by as many as 28 points before New Orleans cut the lead in a largely insignificant fourth quarter with players from both teams playing at the end of the bench.

It was the first night of a back-to-back split for Houston, with another game against Minnesota on Friday. This game caps a season that included five straight games at Toyota Center.

Thursday marked the second time in a week for Jalen Green that he dropped 30 or more points against the Pelicans, and both showed strong efficiency. In Thursday’s game, Green led the way with 30 points on 12 of 21 shooting (57.1%) and 6 of 11 from 3-point range (54.5%).

Other notable statistical lines included:

• Fred VanVleet: 25 points, 6 assists, 4 assists; 7 of 12 on 3-point shots (58.3%)

• Alperen Sengun: 10 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists; 5 out of 11 shots (45.5%)

• Amen Thompson: 9 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks, 3 assists; 4-of-8 shooting (50.0%)

• Cam Whitmore: Career-high 27 points, 4 rebounds; 9 of 16 shots (56.3%), 4 of 8 on 3-pointers (50.0%), 5 of 6 free throws (83.3%)

• Jae’Sean Tate: 10 points, 2 rebounds; 4-of-6 shooting (66.7%)

Whitmore and Tate again played additional minutes due to the injury absences of Tari Eason (left lower leg soreness) and Dillon Brooks (right ankle soreness). The exact return dates for Eason and Brooks are not yet known, although neither injury is considered long-term. Both are evaluated daily by the team.

The Rockets (21-9) remain in second place in the Western Conference standings. The Pelicans (5-26), plagued by injuries to key players like Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram throughout the 2024-25 season, remain in last place.

Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 21 points in 30 minutes on Thursday, including 4 of 9 from 3-point range (44.4%).

December 26: Rockets-Pelicans complete the highlights

December 26th post-game reactions and interviews

What’s next?

The Rockets begin their five-game home schedule by visiting Minnesota on Friday. Tipoff against the Timberwolves (15-14) is at 7 p.m. Central.

More: With 27 points, a career-high, Cam Whitmore is making a case to be reinserted into the Rockets’ rotation

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Jalen Green scores 30 points again as Rockets defeat Pelicans to improve to 21-9