Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction
| Game Time | 8:00 pm EST |
| Houston Rockets Line | -8.5 |
| New Orleans Pelicans Line | +8.5 |
| Total | 222.5 |
| TV: | NBA TV |
Happy Boxing Day as the Rockets and Pelicans meet in New Orleans in the Smoothie King Center and Nick has you covered with Analysis and a Prediction.
PREGAME WARM-UP:
In this all-Western matchup between two teams sitting on opposite sides of the conference table, the New Orleans Pelicans are hosting the Houston Rockets. The Pelicans have been terrible this season, as they have been ravaged by injuries and could never get anything going. They have won just once in their last seventeen games, and are currently the second-worst team in the whole NBA. The Rockets are having one of the best seasons of recent years, as they have risen on the second place of the West and tovet one loss in their first six games.
Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction
New Orleans Pelicans Injury Report: Trey Murphy III is day-to-day, Karlo Matkovic, Jose Alvarado, Brandon Ingram, and Zion Williamson are out
Houston Rockets Injury Report: Tari Eason, and Dillon Brooks are day-to-day.
New Orleans Pelicans Form and Trends
The Pelicans have a 5-25 record this season and are sitting in last place in the West. New Orleans is 11-19 against the spread and 14-15-1 in over/under. The Pelicans have a 4-11 home record, and are 8-7 against the spread, with a -5.1-point differential. New Orleans is 1-16 in their last 17 games, but 4-4 against the spread in their last 8. The Over is 6-3 in their last 9 games.
The Pelicans are coming off a 129-132 loss by Denver, as they allowed the Nuggets to shoot with 51% from the field. New Orleans had four players with 21+ points, led by Jordan Hawkins with 25 with 5 triples off the bench.
Zion Williamson leads the Pels in scoring with 22.7 points, adding 8 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Brandon Ingram adds 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists but both are out with injuries.
Houston Rockets Recent Form and Trends
The Rockets have a 20-9 record this season and are in second place in the West. Houston is 18-11 against the spread and 14-15 in over/under. The Rockets have a 9-5 road record, and are 8-6 against the spread, with a +3.7-point differential. The Rockets are 5-1 in their last 6 games, but 3-5 against the spread in their last 8.
The Rockets are coming off a 114-101 win in Charlotte, even though they shot with just 43% from the field. Four of their five starters scored 16+ points, as Jalen Smith Jr led Houston’s offense with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Jalen Green leads the Rockets in scoring with an average of 19.1 points and 4.7 rebounds. Alperen Sengun adds 18.6 points, 5.2 assists and a team-high 10.4 rebounds.
Statistical Breakdown
Offensively, the Pels are dead last in the league, averaging 105.7 points per game. They shoot 43.7% from the field (29th) and 33.2% from beyond the arc (26th). Defensively, the Pels allow 117.2 points per game, which is just 25th in the league.
Offensively, the Rockets average 112.9 points per game, points 15th in the league. Houston does not shoot the ball very well, with just 44.2% from the field (26th) and 32.4% from beyond the arc (28th). Defensively, they are third-best in the league, allowing 106.3 points per game.
In their previous meeting earlier this season, the Rockets won 133-113 at home. The Pelicans are 6-3-1 against the spread in their last 10 meetings, and they are 4-1 in their last 5 home meetings against the Rockets. Under is 7-2 in their last 9 meetings.
Prediction
In this Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction, the Rockets are coming as -8.5 home favorites. The Rockets are rightfully favored as they are the superior team, but they are winning by just 3.7 points on the road, while the Pelicans are losing by just 5.1 points, so I don’t trust either side in this game. The Pelicans are terrible offensively as they are last in the NBA in points scored, as they go up against the third-best defense of the league. Both teams are struggling with their shooting, as they are sitting in the bottom 5 of the NBA in shooting percentages, so I expect points to be at a premium in this game. Take the UNDER the point total. Nick’s Free Pick: Under 222.5
If you enjoyed this game, then also check out The Jazz vs Blazers game: http://www.tonyspicks.com/2024/12/25/utah-jazz-vs-portland-trail-blazers-prediction/
Also, check out my BEST BETS:http://members.tonyspicks.com/cappers/71