Rockets Beat Pelicans 123-117 in Shanghai

(photo credit: Houston Rockets/Twitter)

The Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Pelicans rekindled their divisional rivalry overseas on Sunday morning, when the two teams met in Shanghai at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. This is the first of two meetings between Houston and New Orleans in the preseason, as they’ll meet again on Wednesday in Beijing. Houston used a strong fourth quarter to defeat the Pelicans, 123-117. 

The game was a shootout from the beginning, as both teams combined to score 67 points in the first quarter. After trailing by seven at the end of the first, New Orleans played much better in the second quarter to cut Houston’s lead to 68-65 at halftime. The Pelicans would outscore Houston by five in the third quarter to take a two point lead into the fourth quarter. 

Houston responded by outscoring the Pelicans by eight in the fourth quarter, which would give them the six point victory in front 15,844 fans in Shanghai. New Orleans was led by E’Twaun Moore, who scored 25 points and shot 4/4 from beyond the arc. Anthony Davis added 23 points and five rebounds. Former Rocket Omer Asik posted 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Pelicans. 

On the other side, fan-favorite James Harden led the way for Houston. Harden recorded 26 points, while adding 15 assists and seven rebounds. Former Pelicans Ryan Anderson (21 points) and Eric Gordon (24 points) both had big days against their former team. K.J. McDaniels chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Houston (3-0) will play the Pelicans (1-2) on Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. ET at the MasterCard Center in Beijing.