Houston Rockets LISTEN: Win vs. New Orleans Pelicans Best of Year?

The Houston Rockets are now winners of five straight games after beating the New Orleans Pelicans in a 104-101 thriller on Friday night at Toyota Center.

The win was definitely the tightest out of the five victories so far this season, but could it be the most impressive?

In the latest episode of the "Kiss of Death Podcast," I recap the Houston Rockets' In-Season Tournament win against the New Orleans Pelicans.

While the Rockets struggled early on in the first quarter, specifically on the offensive end of the floor, Houston was able to navigate through its struggles and find a way to stay in the game. The defensive efforts ultimately saved the game from getting away from the Rockets, who were able to keep the deficit within a manageable range.

In the game's final minutes, the Rockets were able to strike, hitting a pair of 3-point shots from veteran point guard Fred VanVleet to retake the lead. Houston never relinquished it.

The win against the Pelicans gives the Rockets a boost in their In-Season Tournament run, but aside from that, the win proved that Houston could still figure out how to win a ball game even if things weren't going their way. In the four victories before Sunday, Houston proved that it could blow teams out. But of course, not every game is going to work that way.

A win against a quality opponent like the Pelicans in a playoff atmosphere should give the Rockets something to build on as they go through the rest of the season.