The Pelicans are hosting the Rockets on Thursday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Houston is favored by 9.5 points and this game carries a total of 233.5 points.
Below, I break down the matchup and provide a pick for the game.
Rockets vs. Pelicans preview, prediction
The Rockets are coming off a tough 128-125 overtime loss to the Nuggets in Denver, but Houston has lived up to the expectations this season with a 16-7 record and ranking second in net rating. The Rockets rank third in both offensive and defensive rating, and they have one of the most complete rosters in the league with Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun leading the way.
Even at 37 years old, Durant is still one of the most efficient scorers in the NBA, averaging 24.8 PPG while shooting 50% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. Playing alongside Durant, Sengun is playing the best basketball of his career. The center is averaging 23.5 points, 9.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game, and Sengun has put up Nikola Jokic esque stat lines at times.
In fact, when Sengun just faced Jokic this past Monday night, both big men tallied 30-point triple-doubles. As mentioned above, Houston lost this matchup with Denver in overtime, but the Rockets are 5-1 after a loss this season and facing the Pelicans is a great spot for Houston to get back on track tonight.
At 5-22 this season, New Orleans sits at the bottom of the Western Conference. The Pelicans rank 28th in net rating, as they rank bottom-five in both offensive and defensive rating. That being said, New Orleans has won two in a row with wins over the Trail Blazers and the Bulls, and Zion Williamson is healthy again after missing 16 games this season. The former No.1 overall pick is averaging 21.7 PPG this season and he ranks second for the team in net rating. The Pelicans are just 2-9 with Williamson active, but there is no question that they are a more competitive team with the forward available, as in only two of these 11 games with Williamson active has New Orleans lost by double digits.
The Pelicans beating the Rockets is very unlikely, but if Williamson and Trey Murphy – who is averaging a career-high 21.1 PPG this season – can do their jobs as scorers, New Orleans has a chance to make this a decently competitive affair.
Rockets vs. Pelicans pick, best bet
The Rockets should win this game, but the Pelicans should put up a fight and cover this 9.5-point spread.
New Orleans is 16-10-1 ATS this season – which is the third-best record in the NBA – and Pelicans are a league-best 3-1-0 ATS after a win.
