Houston Rockets (20-9) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (5-25)
December 26, 2024 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: New Orleans Pelicans +7.5; Over/Under: +222.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Houston Rockets invade the Smoothie King Center to take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night. Here’s a New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets Prediction. This article will include a New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets Pick.
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets have been in great shape as they’ve won five of their last six games overall and they will be gunning for a fourth straight victory after routing the Hornets in a 114-101 road win on Monday. Jabari Smith Jr led the team with 21 points and 11 rebounds, Fred VanVleet added 20 points with six assists while Amen Thompson chipped in with 19 points with 11 rebounds and three assists.
As a team, the Rockets shot 43 percent from the field and 13 of 42 from the 3-point line which aren’t impressive shooting numbers, but this win was all about their defense as they were always in control after restricting the Hornets to just 31 points in the first half.
New Orleans Pelicans
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been in terrible form as they’ve lost 25 of their first 30 games and they will be hoping to put a halt to a seven-game slide after falling just short to the Nuggets in a 132-129 overtime win on Sunday. Jordan Hawkins led the team with 25 points on nine of 18 shooting off the bench, CJ McCollum added 24 points with nine assists while Dejounte Murray tallied 17 points with eight rebounds, 15 assists, and six steals.
As a team, the Pelicans shot 46 percent from the field and 12 of 40 from the 3-point line as they got off to a quick start and looked to be in full control when they led by 17 points, but they allowed the Nuggets to level the scores in regulation and steal the game in overtime as they just had no answer for the Nuggets’ duo of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray who scored 27 points each. The Pels will meet the Grizzlies after this game.
Why the Houston Rockets will win
- The Pelicans have lost each of their last 10 games following a home loss.
- The Rockets have won each of their last six games on the first leg of a back-to-back.
- The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in each of their last five games on the first leg of a back-to-back after coming off overtime.
- The Rockets have covered the spread in each of their last five road games following a road win.
Total Points Facts
- Eight of the Rockets’ last nine road games following a road win have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Seven of the Pelicans’ last eight home games after coming off overtime have gone UNDER the total points line.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets Prediction
The Rockets are still keeping an eye on Tari Eason and Dillon Brooks who are both day-to-day, while the Pelicans are still missing Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, and Jose Alverado. The Rockets could be missing a couple players for this one, but they still have more than enough firepower to blow past this depleted Pelicans team who were ice-cold before their surprising overtime win over the Nuggets on Sunday. The line seems a bit high, but I have the Rockets winning this one by double digits anyway, so let’s go with the Rockets on the road.
