Rockets Look to Bounce Back Against Struggling Pelicans

Houston aims to rebound from narrow loss as New Orleans hosts on Sunday

Mar. 29, 2026 at 2:33am

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The Houston Rockets (43-29) will look to bounce back from a narrow defeat when they visit the struggling New Orleans Pelicans (25-49) at the Smoothie King Center on Sunday. The Rockets are coming off a 110-108 loss to the Timberwolves, while the Pelicans are looking to regroup after a 129-108 defeat against the Pistons in their last outing.

Why it matters

This matchup features two teams heading in opposite directions, with the Rockets still in playoff position but looking to regain their form, while the Pelicans are firmly out of the postseason picture. The outcome could impact Houston's seeding in the Western Conference as the regular season winds down.

The details

In the Rockets' loss to the Timberwolves, Kevin Durant led the way with 30 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists, but Houston shot just 40.9% from the field and 31.0% from 3-point range. The Pelicans, meanwhile, were dominated by the Pistons, allowing Detroit to shoot 56.5% from the floor and 53.6% from beyond the arc. Zion Williamson had 21 points and 6 rebounds in the defeat.

  • The game will take place on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
  • The Rockets last played on Friday, losing to the Timberwolves.
  • The Pelicans last played on Wednesday, falling to the Pistons.

The players

Kevin Durant

The Rockets' star forward scored 30 points in the team's loss to the Timberwolves.

Zion Williamson

The Pelicans' young star had 21 points and 6 rebounds in their defeat against the Pistons.

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What they’re saying

“We have to bounce back and get this win against the Pelicans. It's a big game for us as we try to solidify our playoff position.”

— Kevin Durant

What’s next

The Rockets will look to rebound against the Pelicans on Sunday, while New Orleans will try to end its recent skid and play spoiler at home.

The takeaway

This matchup features a Rockets team still in the playoff hunt looking to regain its form, while the Pelicans are simply trying to play spoiler as their season winds down. The outcome could have implications for Houston's seeding in the Western Conference.