Pelicans at Rockets
The first act of the James Harden-Russell Westbrook reunion tour did not begin well, but the dynamic duo looks to get on track when the Houston Rockets host the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. The two former MVPs, who played together with Oklahoma City from 2009-12, combined to score 43 points on just 9-of-30 shooting (4-for-15 from 3-point range) in a 117-111 home loss to Milwaukee on Thursday.
“They’re going to be fine,” Houston coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters after his team shot 36.7 percent and missed 32 of its 48 tries from beyond the arc versus the Bucks. “It’s sad to say, but we’re not going to win 82 games this year. Now we’ve got a chance to win 81.” Harden shot just 2-of-13 in the opener but dished out 14 assists, and the 30-year-old guard will try to find his touch after averaging 31 points as the Rockets split four meetings with the Pelicans last season, with the road team winning each contest. New Orleans took reigning NBA champion Toronto to overtime before succumbing on Tuesday and fell 123-116 to Dallas in its home opener three nights later as No. 1 overall draft pick Zion Williamson recovers from knee surgery that will keep him out until December. Brandon Ingram, the biggest prize of the Anthony Davis deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, has led the way for the Pelicans with a total of 47 points in the first two games.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS New Orleans, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
ABOUT THE PELICANS (0-2): Veteran guard Jrue Holiday has struggled with his shooting in the first two games, connecting on just 8-of-26 shots - including 1-of-9 from 3-point range - while averaging 10.5 points. Josh Hart has picked up some of the slack in the backcourt with 31 points and 19 rebounds while fellow newcomer Lonzo Ball finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists versus Dallas. Sharp-shooting guard J.J. Redick made four shots from beyond the arc en route to 16 points in the opener but was held to three points on 1-of-3 shooting in 22 minutes on Friday.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (0-1): Westbrook finished with 24 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists while limiting the turnovers to three in the opener, but Harden coughed up the ball seven times and duo made just 4-of-15 attempts from 3-point range. Center Chris Capela registered a double-double on Thursday (13 points and 12 boards) while forward PJ Tucker scored 17 points while going 5-for-8 from 3-point range. Guard Eric Gordon, who started 53 games last season, was 4-for-19 for 11 points off the bench in the opener and newcomer Tyson Chandler recorded 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Pelicans G Frank Jackson has recorded 19 points in 29 minutes over the first two games.
2. Houston rookie G Michael Frazier (ankle) missed the season opener and is considered day-to-day.
3. New Orleans rookie G Nickeil Alexander-Walker is just 3-for-19 from the field in his first two NBA contests.