LOUISIANA – New Orleans Pelicans cruised to its fourth consecutive win in the 2021-2022 NBA Season with a 110-97 beating of Houston Rockets on Tuesday night (Wednesday in the Philippines) at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 26 points, three blocks, two rebounds and two assists, while Jaxson Hayes and Naji Marshall chipped in 14 markers apiece.
Jonas Valanciunas and Jose Alvarado also made their presence felt for the streaking Pelicans with 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Herb Jones had double-double 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Currently with 22-32 win-loss slate at 10th place in the West, the Pelicans’ playoffs push was even bolstered after acquiring star guard CJ McCollum from Portland Trail Blazers earlier in the day.
In the said trade, the Pelicans receive McCollum, Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell from the Trail Blazers in exchange for Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Tomas Satoransky and Didi Louzada.
Kevin Porter Jr. led the way with 27 points, including seven triples, while Christian Wood and Filipino-American guard Jalen Green had 19 and 12 points, respectively, for the Rockets (15-39).
Meanwhile, Indiana Pacers (19-37) suffered a harrowing 133-112 defeat to Atlanta Hawks (26-28) on the day it traded away star forward Domantas Sabonis to Sacramento Kings.
Trae Young feasted on a trade-depleted Pacers with double-double 34 points and 11 assists to lead the Hawks while John Collins and Onyeka Okongwu contributed 20 and 14 markers, respectively.
The Pacers traded Sabonis, along with Jeremy Lamb and Justin Holiday, to the Kings in exchange for Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson.
Rookie Chris Duarte carried the fight for the rebuilding Pacers with 25 points, while veteran Lance Stephenson added 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists./PN
