The New Orleans Pelicans travel to the Toyota Center to take on the Houston Rockets on Friday night. Here’s a Rockets vs. Pelicans Prediction. This article will include a Rockets vs. Pelicans pick.
New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview
The New Orleans Pelicans have been on a nice run lately, as they’ve won seven of their last 10 games overall and they will be aiming for a third straight victory after routing the Raptors in a 122-111 home win on Wednesday. Trey Murphy III led the team with 28 points on eight of 12 shooting, Dejounte Murray tallied 27 points with six assists on 12 of 20 shooting, while Zion Williamson chipped in with 19 points, six rebounds and four assists. As a team, the Pelicans shot 51 percent from the field and 14 of 29 from the 3-point line as they traded shots with the Raptors in a close contest until the third quarter, where the Pelicans went on a crucial 22-5 run to take full control of the game.
Houston Rockets Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets have been in a rut as they’ve split their last eight games and they will be hoping to bounce back here after getting smashed by the Nuggets in a 129-93 road defeat on Wednesday. Amen Thompson led the team with 16 points on eight of 14 shooting, Josh Okogie added 12 points, and Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. each scored 11 points. As a team, the Rockets shot just 43 percent from the field and a miserable four of 33 from the 3-point line as they kept pace with the Nuggets in the first half, but that all changed in the second half, where the Rockets got outscored by 76-46 to get completely blown out in the end.
Why the Houston Rockets will win
- The Rockets have won each of their last 13 home games against Southwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
- The Pelicans have lost 35 of their last 38 road games against teams that held a winning record.
- The Rockets have covered the spread in eight of their last nine games as favorites against Southwest Division opponents following a loss.
- The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six Friday night games against Southwest Division opponents that held a winning record.
Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win
- The Pelicans have won four of their last five games as underdogs against Southwest Division opponents.
- The Rockets have lost three of their last four games against Western Conference opponents.
- The Pelicans have covered the spread in each of their last seven games against Southwest Division opponents.
- The Rockets have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six games against Southwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Rockets’ last six home games against Southwest Division opponents has gone UNDER the total points line.
- Each of the Pelicans’ last four road games following a home win have gone OVER the total points line.
Houston Rockets Player Facts
- Alperen Sengun ranks 1st in the league for points in the paint (794) this season.
- Amen Thompson ranks 4th in the league for points in the paint (768) this season.
New Orleans Pelicans Player Facts
- Zion Williamson ranks 1st amongst qualified players for points in the paint per game (15.7) this season.
- Herb Jones is one of only two players in the league to have recorded 8+ steals in a game this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Rockets rank 1st in the league for rebounds per game this season (48.2).
- The Rockets rank 1st in the league for offensive rebounds per game this season (15.2).
- The Pelicans have recorded the largest comeback win from an HT deficit this season—trailing by 22 points vs. the Rockets on December 18.
- The Pelicans rank 1st for points in the paint (3856) this season.
Rockets vs Pelicans Prediction
The Pelicans are still missing Bryce McGowens, while the Rockets have ruled out Steven Adams, Fred VanVleet and Jae’Sean Tate, with Alperen Sengun listed as questionable due to lower back pain. The Rockets are expectedly opening as favorites at home, but these teams have already met twice this season, with both games finishing pretty close. I like the Rockets to bounce back after getting humbled in their last outing, but something tells me the Pelicans are going to be able to take this down to the wire if Murphy III and Murray have big games.