Rockets Blow 25-Point Lead in Overtime Loss to Pelicans: A Wake-Up Call in Clutch Moments
Every contending team hits a wall at some point in the season - a game that gets away from them, a night where momentum shifts and never comes back. For the Houston Rockets, Thursday night in New Orleans was exactly that kind of night.
Up by 25 points in the second half, the Rockets looked like they were in full control. The offense was humming, the defense was active, and everything pointed toward a routine win over a Pelicans team that came in with just six victories on the season. But what followed was Houston’s biggest collapse of the year - a stunning 133-128 overtime loss that marked their third defeat in the last four games.
Let’s break down how it all unraveled - and why it should raise some red flags for a team with postseason ambitions.
A Tale of Two Halves (and Then Some)
Houston came out firing, putting up 67 points in the first half and looking every bit like a team that had found its offensive rhythm. Ball movement was crisp, shot selection was strong, and the Rockets had their foot on the gas.
Then came the second half and overtime, where the wheels came off. Houston managed just 61 points the rest of the way - not a disaster on its own, but when you pair that with the 88 they gave up on the other end, the math quickly turned against them.
The defensive intensity that defined the first half evaporated. Closeouts were late.
Rotations got sloppy. And the Pelicans, to their credit, took full advantage.
Saddiq Bey Ignites the Comeback
The spark came from Saddiq Bey, who put on a fourth-quarter clinic. He finished with a game-high 29 points, 17 of which came in the fourth and overtime. His shot-making late was the kind of takeover performance that shifts momentum in a flash - capped by a tough fallaway jumper that gave New Orleans a four-point cushion with under 30 seconds to play.
Bey wasn’t alone. Trey Murphy III continued his December surge with 27 points, adding another layer of firepower to a Pelicans team that refused to go quietly. Murphy’s confidence and shooting stroke have been trending upward, and on Thursday, it showed.
Rockets' Clutch-Time Struggles Resurface
Here’s the bigger concern for Houston: this isn’t a one-off. Seven of their eight losses this season have come in clutch games - defined as games within five points in the final five minutes. That’s a pattern, not a fluke.
The talent is there. The depth is there.
But late-game execution? That’s still a work in progress.
For a team with eyes on making real noise in the playoffs, these are the kinds of games that sting - not just because of the standings, but because of what they reveal. The Rockets have the pieces to close out games, but the consistency just hasn’t been there when it matters most.
Time for the Vets to Lead
This is where leadership matters. Kevin Durant, Steven Adams, and the rest of Houston’s veteran core have been through the grind. They know what it takes to navigate the long haul of an NBA season and how to steady the ship when things get shaky.
The Rockets don’t need to panic - they’re still sitting in a strong position overall. But these lapses, especially against teams with losing records, are the kind that can come back to haunt you in a tight playoff race.
The good news? It’s December.
There’s time to clean it up. But the message is clear: if Houston wants to be taken seriously in April and May, they’ve got to start closing the door in games like this.
Because blowing a 25-point lead - no matter who you’re playing - is the kind of loss that sticks with you. And the best teams don’t let it happen twice.