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A matchup featuring a struggling NBA team will see the Houston Rockets (10-27) play the New Orleans Pelicans (23-14) at Smoothie King Center on January 4, 2023. The Rockets have lost four in a row and are 1-9 over their last 10 games. They enter this matchup as 7.5-point underdogs. The point total in this game is 229.5.
How to bet Pelicans vs. Rockets
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Houston Rockets Odds
Point Spread
The spread for this matchup is set at 7.5 points, with oddsmakers listing the Pelicans as the favorites.
Moneyline
As for the moneyline, the Pelicans have -278 odds to pick up the win, while the Rockets are listed at +225 to claim victory.
Over/Under
Finally, the over/under for the game is set at 229.5 points.
Pelicans vs. Rockets Game Time and How to Watch
- Game Day: Wednesday, January 4, 2023
- Game Time: 8:00 PM ET
- TV Channel: BSNO
- Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
- Arena: Smoothie King Center
Pelicans vs. Rockets Betting Trends
The Pelicans have played 37 games, with 19 wins against the spread. New Orleans has won 16, or 69.6%, of the 23 contests in which it was the favorite this year. Pelicans games this year have gone over the point total 59.5% of the time (22 out of 37 games with a set point total).
The Rockets have 16 wins against the spread in 37 games this season. Houston has won 10 of the 35 games it was the moneyline underdog this season (28.6%). Rockets games this year have gone over the point total 48.6% of the time (18 out of 37 games with a set point total).
Potential Starting Lineups and Key Players
Pelicans
| Name | GP | PTS | REB | ASST | STL | BLK | 3PM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CJ McCollum | 33 | 20 | 4.8 | 6 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 2.8 |
| Jonas Valančiūnas | 37 | 13.5 | 9.4 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| Trey Murphy III | 34 | 12.7 | 4.2 | 1.3 | 1 | 0.5 | 2.4 |
| Herbert Jones | 25 | 10.2 | 3.8 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| Naji Marshall | 35 | 8.8 | 3.4 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1 |
Rockets
| Name | GP | PTS | REB | ASST | STL | BLK | 3PM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Green | 37 | 21.4 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 2.4 |
| Kevin Porter Jr. | 36 | 19.5 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 2.1 |
| Alperen Sengun | 33 | 14.4 | 8.6 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.2 |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | 36 | 12.1 | 6.9 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1 | 1.9 |
| Eric Gordon | 31 | 11.5 | 2 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.9 |
Pelicans vs. Rockets Injury Report
Rockets: Jae’Sean Tate: Out (Ankle)
What you need to know about the New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans sports a top-five offense this year, ranking third-best in the league with 117.4 points per game. At the other end, it ranks 14th with 113 points allowed per contest. Offensively the Pelicans have fared better at home this year, posting 117.7 points per game, compared to 117.2 per game away from home. The Pelicans have seen an increase in scoring recently, putting up 118.7 points per game in their last 10 contests, 1.3 points more than the 117.4 they’ve scored this season.
New Orleans ranks 20th in the NBA with 11.4 three-pointers per game this year. Meanwhile, it ranks 10th with a 36.8% shooting percentage from downtown. So far this season, the Pelicans have taken 65.3% two-pointers, accounting for 73.5% of the team’s baskets. They have shot 34.7% threes (26.5% of the team’s baskets).
What you need to know about the Houston Rockets
Houston is the second-worst team in the NBA in points scored (109.3 per game) and 19th in points conceded (115.7). The Rockets average 108.8 points per game at home, and 109.8 on the road. The Rockets have fared worse offensively over their last 10 games, tallying 106.7 points per contest, 2.6 fewer points their than season average of 109.3.
In 2022-23 Houston is 19th in the NBA in 3-point makes (11.5 per game) and third-worst in 3-point percentage (33%). In 2022-23, the Rockets have taken 60.3% percent of their shots from inside the 3-point line, and 39.7% percent from beyond it. In terms of made shots, 70.4% of the Rockets’ baskets have been 2-pointers, and 29.6% have been 3-pointers.
Our pick to win this matchup is the Pelicans, and we expect that Pelicans will cover the spread (Pelicans -7.5). Finally, we see the scoring in this one going under the posted total of 229.5 points.
You can bet on Pelicans vs. Rockets at every legal online sportsbook. For more NBA odds, including moneylines, spreads, over/under totals as well as NBA prop odds, check out the latest NBA lines as well as our guide to the best NBA betting sites.
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