Pelicans come up empty at lowly Houston

After a good performance and a good win in Dallas last Friday night and having won four of their last six games, the New Orleans Pelicans were looking to build on that momentum against a bad team in Houston.

Instead, the Pelicans returned to being bad, make that very bad in a 118-108 loss to the Rockets Sunday night.

Brandon Ingram kept New Orleans in it with his best offensive game of the season, pumping in 40 points, the third highest total of his NBA career.

Jonas Valanciunas was his typical solid self with 17 points and 10 rebounds after a slow start with just two points in the first half.

The same was true of Billy Hernangomez, who produced 10 points and 14 rebounds in just 16 minutes.

Ingram was very good and the center position was outstanding.

As for everyone else, it was a forgettable performance.

Guards Devonte Graham and Nickeil Alexander-Walker each shot 3-of-13 from the field while Trey Murphy struggled through an 0-for-6 performance.

Herb Jones fouled out.

Garrett Temple and Tomas Satoransky were non-factors.

Houston shot it well, New Orleans shot poorly from 3-point range to the tune of 10-of-38 (26.3%) and the Pelicans were porous on the defensive end of the floor again, a familiar refrain.

Houston outscored New Orleans 51-30 from 3-point range. There is your ball game.

There was little ball movement by the Pelicans, who had just 19 assists on 40 made shots, a poor ratio.

The Pelicans were good on the glass, winning that battle 50-40, including 22 offensive boards and took care of the ball, committing just eight turnovers.

Ultimately, Houston played harder and played better than the Pelicans.

New Orleans lost to a team that is now 7-16.

The Pelicans (7-19) return to action Wednesday night at home against Denver.

Losing to a lowly team in Houston is tough to take.

That is, of course, understandable, because the Pelicans are a lowly team, a sobering, disappointing fact.