Pelicans vs Rockets Prediction 12/18/25 NBA Picks Today

The Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans meet Thursday in NBA action at the Smoothie King Center. Here’s a Pelicans vs Rockets Prediction. This article will include a Pelicans vs Rockets Pick.

Houston Rockets Betting Preview

The Houston Rockets beat the Clippers, lost to the Nuggets, and they play the Nuggets next. The Rockets have won 6 of their last 9 games.

The Houston Rockets are averaging 120.9 points on 48.7 percent shooting and allowing 111.2 points on 46 percent shooting. Kevin Durant is averaging 24.8 points and 4.6 rebounds, while Alperen Sengun is averaging 23.5 points and 9.4 rebounds. Amen Thompson is the third double-digit scorer, and Jabari Smith Jr. is grabbing 6.7 rebounds. The Houston Rockets are shooting 39.9 percent from beyond the arc and 79 percent from the free-throw line. The Houston Rockets are allowing 34.5 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 48.7 rebounds per game.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

The New Orleans Pelicans beat the Trail Blazers and Bulls, and they play the Pacers next. The Pelicans have lost 16 of their last 19 games.

The New Orleans Pelicans are averaging 114.2 points on 46.1 percent shooting and allowing 122.9 points on 49.3 percent shooting. Zion Williamson is averaging 21.7 points and 5.6 rebounds, while Trey Murphy III is averaging 21.1 points and 6.5 rebounds. Jordan Poole is the third double-digit scorer and Jeremiah Fears is dishing 3.1 assists. The New Orleans Pelicans are shooting 34.4 percent from beyond the arc and 78.4 percent from the free-throw line. The New Orleans Pelicans are allowing 36.3 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 42.9 rebounds per game.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

• The home team has won each of the Rockets’ last six games.
• The Rockets have lost each of their last three games as road favorites.
• The Rockets have failed to cover the spread in each of their last eight games against Western Conference opponents following an overtime loss.
• The Pelicans have covered the spread in each of their last six games against Western Conference opponents.

Why the Houston Rockets will win

• The Pelicans have lost each of their last 17 games against Western Conference opponents that held a winning record.
• The Rockets have won each of their last nine games as favorites after losing as favorites.
• The Rockets have covered the spread in each of their last eight games as favorites against Southwest Division opponents following a loss.
• The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in each of their last seven games against Rockets teams that held a winning record.

Total Points Facts

• Each of the Pelicans’ last eight home games against Western Conference opponents have gone OVER the total points line.
• Five of the Rockets’ last six games as road favorites against the Pelicans have gone UNDER the total points line.

New Orleans Pelicans Player Facts

• Trey Murphy III ranks 2nd in the Western Conference amongst qualified players for steals per game (1.7) this season.
• Jeremiah Fears is one of only four players in the league to have recorded 7+ steals in a game this season.

Houston Rockets Player Facts

• Alperen Sengun ranks 3rd amongst qualified players for points in the paint per game (13.8) this season.
• Steven Adams ranks 5th amongst qualified players for rebounds per 36 minutes (14.5) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Pelicans rank 30th in the league for opponent free throw percentage this season (81.2%).
• The Pelicans rank 30th in the league for opponent three-point field goals made per game this season (15.3).
• The Rockets rank 1st in the league for rebounds per game this season (48.7).
• The Rockets rank 1st in the league for opponent rebounds per game this season (37.5).

Pelicans vs Rockets Injury Report

The Pelicans will be without Dejounte Murray.

The Rockets will be without Fred VanVleet and Dorian Finney-Smith. Tari Eason is questionable.

Pelicans vs Rockets Prediction

The Rockets are coming off a tough loss to the Nuggets, and they’ve now seen 5 of their 7 losses come on the road. The Pelicans are as healthy as they’ve been all season, and they’re coming off two straight wins. Also, the Pelicans have covered 8 of their last 10 games. The Pelicans have just 5 wins, but they’re now a profitable 15-10-2 ATS on the season.

The Pelicans have talent, it was just a matter of putting it together and staying healthy for once. The Rockets should win, but this is a lot of points for a Pels team that’s coming off their best week in a while. Give me the points.