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NEW ORLEANS — Alperen Sengun scored a career-high 37 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to help the Houston Rockets edge the New Orleans Pelicans 106-104 on Saturday night. Jabari Smith Jr. added 26 points and 11 rebounds, and Fred VanVleet had 10 points for the Rockets, whose physical defensive play and willingness to get back in transition frustrated the Pelicans throughout. Houston had an 11-0 edge in fast-break points. Zion Williamson scored 28 points and Brandon Ingram added 19 for the Pelicans, who turned it over twice in the final two minutes and missed nine free throws in the game — with Williamson missing five. New Orleans also missed 23 of 31 3-point attempts in just its second loss in seven games.
