Battle! The Rockets still lead with 4 of 19 three-pointers: 4 players scored in double figures, and Amen got a flagrant foul.

On October 15, the NBA preseason continued, with the Rockets challenging the Pelicans away from home. In this game, the Rockets entered the state quickly and took a 12-3 lead. However, the Pelicans regained their form and successfully caught up with the score, and even led an 8-0 lead in the final stage. In the second quarter, the Rockets regained the initiative with 12-2, and then the two teams fell into a tug-of-war. Amen also clashed with Alvarado, and the Rockets led 60-59 at halftime.

The Rockets made adjustments to their starting lineup in this game and put together a tall lineup of Amen, Durant, Smith, Shen Jing and Adams. Shenjing came up to score points inside, and then Smith Jr. scored consecutive points inside and outside, helping the team gain a 12-3 lead. But then the Pelicans slowly entered the state, Murphy hit a three-pointer, Poole and Jones counterattacked and scored points one after another, successfully narrowing the point difference. The Rockets were still in good shape and still took the initiative on the court, but they made consecutive mistakes in the final stage, giving the Pelicans a chance to counterattack. Hawkins counterattacked and dunked, leading an 8-0 offensive to lead the score. The Rockets fell behind 26-28 in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Rockets adjusted and came up to score points continuously. Shen Jing also made a jump shot, launching a 12-2 offensive and regaining the initiative on the court. Then the Pelicans regained their form and slowly caught up. The two teams fell into a tug-of-war, and then there was a fierce conflict on the court. Amen and Alvarado hugged each other and fell together. Fortunately, their teammates separated in time. In the end, Amen received a first-level flagrant foul and Alvarado received a technical foul. Unexpectedly, the preseason was so intense. After that, the two teams fell into a tug of war. The Rockets failed to further widen the point difference and were once overtaken. Fortunately, Durant hit a buzzer-beating jumper and led the Pelicans 60-59 at halftime.

The two teams played very fiercely in the first half. Amen also received a first-level flagrant foul for hugging. Fortunately, the team blossomed more. Four people scored in double figures in the half. Smith Jr. scored 16 points, Amen 14 points, Durant 10 points, and Ethan 11 points. This also allowed them to take the initiative, even though they only made 4 of 19 three-pointers.

For the Pelicans, Poole scored 10 points and Murphy had 11 points.