Anthony Davis couldn't help but notice James Harden's freshly minted MVP trophy sitting at midcourt before a ceremony during warmups on Wednesday night.
After Harden hoisted the trophy for the first time before the Toyota Center home crowd and received a few MVP chants throughout the night, Davis began to make an MVP case of his own.
Davis had 32 points, 16 rebounds and a career-high eight assists while Nikola Mirotic scored 30 points to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 131-112 win over the Houston Rockets in their season opener.
Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) loses the ball under pressure from New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, in Houston. (AP PhotoMichael Wyke)
"When it was sitting there before the game, I glanced at it, and then I had to lock back in for the game," Davis said. "That stuff will take care of itself. As long as we keep doing what we're doing as a team, the rest will come on its own."
Davis added three blocks and three steals, while Mirotic shot a sizzling 6 of 8 from 3-point range, and Julius Randle had 25 points off the bench.
"We moved the basketball and we made shots, but we put our hats on and defended," Davis said. "To come out with a win against a team like that after the season they had and coming off the season we had, we wanted to come out and set a tempo for ourselves."
Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul (3) is fouled as he drives into New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, in Houston. (AP PhotoMichael Wyke)
Eric Gordon led the Rockets with 21 points off the bench, while P.J. Tucker and Chris Paul both added 19 points. James Harden had 18 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.
"A little bit of legs and non-communication and giving them easy points, easy opportunities -- a little bit of everything," Harden said. "But first game, you just continue to build those good habits and continue to get better every single game. We'll be all right."
The Pelicans dominated the first half, taking an early lead and never relinquished it as they hammered the undersized Rockets in the paint. New Orleans led 71-54 at the break and led by 29 points in the second half. The Pelicans outrebounded the Rockets 54-37.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Nikola Mirotic, center, puts up a shot betweenHouston Rockets guard James Harden (13) and forward PJ Tucker (17) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, in Houston. (AP PhotoMichael Wyke)
"It was a good win for us, but to be honest, we feel like if we play at the level we're supposed to -- we're not surprised," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. "We played exactly how we have to in order to beat that team."
New Orleans dominated Houston in paint scoring, 76-44, and also shot 40 percent on 10 of 25 shooting from 3, compared with a rusty 33.3 percent (16 of 48) from the Rockets.
Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni didn't seem overly alarmed by the defensive display, praising New Orleans' energy.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Elfrid Payton, right, drives around Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul (3) as he tries to avoid the foul during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, in Houston. (AP PhotoMichael Wyke)
"They played harder, longer and did a better job," D'Antoni said. "They played great, but at the same time, there was a period in there where we got really tired and then trying to figure things out, being tired doesn't work, and we didn't have the energy and we kind of let go of the rope at the end of the first half. We obviously have some things to work on, we've got to get our legs and then go after it."
Coming off the bench for Houston with seven minutes remaining in the first quarter, Rockets offseason pickup Carmelo Anthony received a standing ovation when he entered the game wearing his trademark headband and the No. 7. Anthony made his first two shot attempts, the first, from 3, and finished 3-of-10 shooting for nine points in 27 minutes.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: C Jahlil Okafor (right ankle sprain) entered the game late in the fourth quarter, playing less than two minutes.
Rockets: PG Michael Carter-Williams (left knee soreness) played on a minutes restriction as a precaution, with D'Antoni setting the cap around 15 minutes. Carter-Williams played 16 minutes and had 10 points. ... Centers Nene (right calf tightness) and Zhou Qi (left knee sprain) did not play.
MOMENT OF SILENCE
Before the game, the Rockets honored the life of late Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen on the big screen wearing a Portland hat, offering a tribute and moment of silence. Allen, a Microsoft co-founder who also owned the Seattle Seahawks, died Monday in Seattle from complications of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, according to his company Vulcan Inc. He was 65.
A PERFECT 10
Elfrid Payton's minimalist triple-double made him the first player to record exactly 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a single game since March 2, 2013 when Kyle Lowry did it for Toronto. It was Payton's 11th career triple-double.
HE SAID IT
"For all you analytics guys, we're not winning 82 (games) this year. That's done, that's all about how it's been proven." — D'Antoni.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Host Kings on Friday.
Rockets: At Lakers on Saturday.
