Rockets fizzle out against Pelicans
LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Anthony Davis scored 32 points and Elfrid Payton finished with a triple double as the New Orleans Pelicans got their NBA season off to a roaring start by clobbering the Houston Rockets 131-112 on Wednesday.
Davis also had 16 rebounds and Payton finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Pelicans who led wire-to-wire.
“I am just taking what defence gives me,” said Davis. “It is only game one. We still got a lot of work to do.”
The Pelicans’ dominating win in front of a crowd of 18,000 at Toyota Center arena in Texas was one of 11 games in the first full night of the 2018-19 NBA season.
League Most Valuable Player James Harden flirted with a triple double, finishing with 18 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but it wasn’t enough as the Rockets failed to match New Orleans’ season-opening intensity, especially on defence.
Nikola Mirotic delivered 30 points and 10 rebounds in the blowout as the Pelicans led by as many as 29 points at one stage. They led 35-29 at the end of the first quarter and 71-64 at halftime.
Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni expected more on opening night from his experienced squad, the most prolific three-point shooting team in the NBA last season when they finished with a franchise record 65-17 win-loss record.
“We didn’t have the legs, we got tired and then started doing things I have never seen us do before. It is the first game of 82. We will right the ship today, tomorrow, and the next day,” said D’Antoni.
Elsewhere, Kawhi Leonard had 24 points and 12 rebounds in his Toronto debut as the Raptors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 116-104 in the season opener for both teams.