Pelicans Crashed the Rockets' Visit on Jose Alvarado's Historic Game

A historic night from Jose Alvarado helped put the New Orleans Pelicans back in the win column, beating the Houston Rockets 130-105 in the Smoothie King Center.

A historic night from Jose Alvarado helped put the New Orleans Pelicans back in the win column, beating the Houston Rockets 130-105 in the Smoothie King Center.

Jonas Valancuinas took advantage of a night full of mismatches to help Jose Alvarado and the New Orleans Pelicans to a 130-105 home win over the Houston Rockets. 

ALVARADO MAKES HISTORY

Valancuinas scored 32 points and grabbed 10 rebounds but was overshadowed by Alvarado’s historic 16-point, 10-assist, 6-steal night. Baron Davis and Chris Paul are the only other two players in franchise history who had ever achieved the 16-10-6 stat line. Only Alvarado did so without committing a turnover.

Mar 13, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (15) shoots the ball against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports

Per Andrew Lopez, Alvarado is the first rookie with that stat line since turnovers have been an official stat, just the eighth player overall to post the line, and the first player ever to do so as a reserve.

The whole team stepped up with CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, and Zion Williamson all unable to play. Jaxson Hayes scored 21 points to go along with 6 rebounds and a handful of highlights. His between the legs dunk with 4:20 left in the game sealed the win and turned the Smoothie King Center into a late Sunday revival-styled fever pitch.

New Orleans head coach Willie Green was pleased with the late intensity saying, “Just very pleased with our overall effort. We sustained that effort for 48 minutes pretty much. Everybody that checked into the game, everybody that came in and played, played with purpose. It’s beautiful basketball to watch when you do it like that.”

Mar 13, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (5) dunks the ball against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports

Naji Marshall (17 pts, 10 reb), Willy Hernangomez (12 pts, 6 reb) and Devonte’ Graham (10 pts, 7 ast) rounded out the box score in a big win for the Pelicans’ playoff hopes. 

The win ensured New Orleans would end the night still solidly in the tenth spot, just 1.5 games behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the right to host the play-in game.

Green summed up the effort, ending his press conference explaining “Our goal is every man being ready to step up. You don’t have to do anything spectacular. Keep the game simple and let the offense do it for you. We’re all proud of the guys, the way they played, because they did it together.”