Led by 38 points and 8 assists from Chris Paul, the Rockets (34-13) put up a valiant comeback after going down 21 midway through the second half at New Orleans (27-21). But ultimately, the early deficit proved a bit too large to overcome as Houston's rally came up just short in a 115-113 loss on Friday night. - In our postgame recap, we explore the defensive struggles that put Houston in such a big hole, starting with the role of Ryan Anderson (0 points in 14 minutes, -20 in plus/minus) and why his continued slump over the past 24 games may be putting his long-term role into question. - Other topics include encouraging signs from Paul and Eric Gordon (27 points, 10-of-15 shooting) in the comeback, as well as thoughts on the season-ending Achilles injury to the Pelicans' DeMarcus Cousins (15 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists) and its potential implications for Houston's playoff matchups down the road. - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices