Kevin Durant’s late jumper lifts Houston Rockets past New Orleans Pelicans, tightening crowded Western Conference race
Rockets close out tight finish at Toyota Center
The Houston Rockets held off the New Orleans Pelicans 107-105 on Friday, March 13, 2026, at Toyota Center, sealing the game on a late Kevin Durant jump shot in the final seconds. The win moved Houston to 41-25 and reinforced its position near the top of a tightly packed Western Conference standings picture.
Durant’s go-ahead basket came with 7.6 seconds remaining, an 18-foot jumper that broke a late deadlock and left New Orleans with a final possession to answer. The Pelicans, now 22-46, could not convert on the closing sequence, and the Rockets secured the two-point victory after leading for most of the night.
Key performances: Durant and Murray drive scoring
Durant finished with 32 points on 13-of-24 shooting, adding three free throws on four attempts. Houston also leaned on Amen Thompson, who led the Rockets in rebounds with 12 and added eight assists, reflecting a night in which Houston generated offense through pace and second-chance opportunities.
New Orleans was led by Dejounte Murray, who scored a game-high 35 points on 14-of-18 shooting. Herbert Jones was the Pelicans’ top rebounder with nine, while Trey Murphy III recorded seven assists, handling much of New Orleans’ facilitation as the team pushed to erase a deficit in the fourth quarter.
How the game turned: New Orleans surge, Houston response
Houston carried a 57-49 lead into halftime and maintained an edge through three quarters, entering the fourth up 80-72. New Orleans won the final period 33-27, narrowing the margin and creating a late-game situation decided by execution in the half court.
Team totals underline how narrow the separation was. Houston shot 40-of-94 (43%) overall and 14-of-41 (34%) from three-point range. New Orleans shot 37-of-84 (44%) and hit 13-of-32 (41%) from beyond the arc, a key factor in keeping the game within one or two possessions down the stretch.
Rebounding: Houston 52, New Orleans 48
Turnovers: Houston 12, New Orleans 13
Largest lead: Houston 11, New Orleans 4
What it means in the standings
The Rockets’ victory strengthened their home record (23-8) and kept them in contention near the top tier of the West as the regular season nears its final stretch. For New Orleans, the loss extended a difficult season, despite high-efficiency scoring from Murray and a fourth-quarter push that brought the game to a one-possession finish.
Final score: Rockets 107, Pelicans 105 — Houston led 82% of the game and closed with a late Durant basket.