The New Orleans Pelicans didn’t just win a basketball game on Thursday night - they dug themselves out of a 25-point hole, stared down a red-hot Houston Rockets team, and walked away with a 133-128 overtime victory that felt like more than just a notch in the win column. It felt like a statement.
This one had all the makings of a blowout early. After a manageable nine-point deficit in the first quarter, the Pelicans got blitzed in the second.
Houston outscored them 34-21 in that frame, and by halftime, New Orleans was staring at a 22-point deficit. The Rockets were rolling, and the Pelicans looked like they were headed for another frustrating night.
But then something clicked.
The third quarter wasn’t perfect, but it was a start. New Orleans trimmed the lead from 25 to 16 by the start of the fourth. And then came the surge - a 17-5 run that turned the game on its head and reminded everyone that this Pelicans squad has more fight than their record might suggest.
The spark? Herb Jones.
The defensive ace was everywhere - passing lanes, on-ball coverage, help-side rotations - and by the time the final buzzer sounded, he had racked up a career-high eight steals. His energy on defense set the tone, and the rest of the team followed.
Then came Saddiq Bey, who took over late. He dropped 11 points in the fourth quarter alone and kept his foot on the gas in overtime, finishing with 29 points - his best game since landing in New Orleans. Bey’s combination of shot-making and physicality gave the Pelicans a much-needed offensive punch, especially when the game tightened up.
New Orleans outscored Houston 38-22 in the fourth quarter to force overtime, and from there, they simply outlasted the Rockets - a team that’s been making noise as a potential playoff sleeper in the West.
This win doesn’t crown the Pelicans as contenders. But it does show what this group is capable of when the pieces click - and there’s reason to believe they’re starting to.
Zion Williamson is working his way back to full strength. Rookie standouts Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears are playing with the poise of top-five picks, giving the team valuable production in key spots.
Trey Murphy III continues to blossom into a legitimate offensive weapon, pouring in 27 points on 69 percent shooting Thursday night. He’s looking more and more like a guy who can carry the scoring load when needed.
Herb Jones and Saddiq Bey have been elite on the wings - not just defensively, but in their ability to impact both ends of the floor. And Jose Alvarado? He’s still doing what he does best: bringing relentless energy off the bench, disrupting opposing guards, and igniting the crowd with hustle plays.
Head coach James Borrego deserves a nod here too. He’s kept this team playing with pace and purpose, emphasizing ball movement and unity even when the results haven’t always followed. That kind of buy-in matters, especially for a team trying to stay afloat in a competitive Western Conference.
Realistically, a play-in spot - somewhere in that 8-to-10 seed range - is still within reach. It’s not a guarantee, and the margin for error remains slim, but Thursday’s comeback win showed that this group has the talent, toughness, and cohesion to make a run.
Now, the front office still has decisions to make. If the Pelicans stumble in the coming weeks, selling at the trade deadline might make sense long-term. But if they keep playing like they did against Houston - with grit, balance, and belief - it’s going to be hard to justify breaking this group up.
This wasn’t just a win. It was a reminder: don’t count these Pelicans out just yet.