Rockets vs. Pelicans Pick
Can the Houston Rockets put up enough offense to pick up a comfortable road win over the New Orleans Pelicans tonight at 8PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Houston is favored on the road in this game, as the Rockets are getting odds of -4 points against the Pelicans. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 227 points. Houston has won six of its last seven meetings with the Pelicans, including a 130-123 win at home back in December. Tonight’s game will take place from Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana and will air live on ESPN.
Houston is riding a four-game win streak coming into tonight, covering in three of the four wins. The Rockets are 34-12 overall, 16-6 on the road and 23-22-1 against the spread. Houston averages 114.1 points per game on the year while allowing 106.3 on defense. James Harden is leading Houston with 31.2 points and 9 assists per game while Clint Capela is adding 14.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per contest.
The Pelicans have won three straight coming into tonight, but are just 1-3 ATS in their last four games. New Orleans is 26-21 overall, 13-9 at home and 24-22-1 against the spread. The Pelicans are putting up 111 points per gam eon offense while allowing 110.6 per contest. Anthony Davis is leading New Orleans with 26.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game while DeMarcus Cousins is adding 25.4 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists per contest.
This is an interesting game, as both teams come in hot. The Pelicans haven’t been great at covering lately, but they have covered in their last two as an underdog, winning at Boston and Charlotte. Houston’s last two losses were both on the road to the Clippers and Pistons, not terribly great teams. This is a statement game for the Pelicans to show it can contend in the West. I think it’s two-headed monster of Davis and Cousins will be more than what Houston can deal with. I am going to take my chances on New Orleans at home. The public betting disagrees with me, as they are strongly with the Rockets.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: NEW ORLEANS PELICANS +4