It’s taken the new-look New Orleans Pelicans a little bit of time to play together, but they’re turning it on now after winning five of their last six games ahead of Friday’s contest against the Houston Rockets. Sportsbooks opened the Pelicans as 7-point underdogs with a total of 227.5.
- The total has gone UNDER in three of the Pelicans' last four games against the Rockets.
- The Rockets are 2-6 ATS in their last eight games as home favorites.
- The total has gone OVER in nine of the Rockets' last 11 games at home.
The Pelicans are in win-now mode if they want to chase down the final playoff spot in the Western Conference that’s currently occupied by the Denver Nuggets. New Orleans is four games back of Denver and begins a tough three-game road trip that also includes contests against the Nuggets and the Utah Jazz.
James Harden is having his best year to date after getting moved to point guard prior to the campaign. The superstar is averaging 29.4 points, 11.2 assists and 8.2 rebounds on the season to become the front-runner to win the MVP Award. Harden has also posted 19 triple-doubles while collecting 25 games of at least 30 points and 10 dimes, the most since Hall of Famer Nate Archibald recorded 46 such games during the 1972-73 season.
Houston has dominated this series, winning seven of the past nine meetings between the squads. The Rockets topped New Orleans 122-100 on December 16 when they made an NBA record 24 3-pointers and attempted a record 61 treys.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Sports bettors looking to pick the Houston Rockets as their prediction for this matchup, they were listed earlier as -7.5-point favorites on the betting odds board at Sportsbook. Those betting on the total over/under for points scored have seen that line set at 227.5 for Friday at shops such as Sportsbook.
Handicapping models based on recent betting stats and prediction formulas pick a 112-109 win for the Rockets. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NBA matchups here.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Houston Rockets currently sport a record of 49-22, and have posted a corresponding betting slate of 40-31 ATS. The New Orleans Pelicans are 30-41 and 35-34-2 ATS. Betting totals have seen the Rockets post a 38-32-1 OVER/UNDER record this season, while the Pelicans have gone 33-38 against the total number of points scored. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Houston vs New Orleans injuries news.
According to the betting Power Rankings at Odds Shark, it's the No. 1-rated Houston Rockets and the No. 21-rated Pelicans in this NBA basketball matchup.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits Houston's No. 2-ranked offense averaging 115.45 PPG, against a New Orleans Pelicans defense that ranks No. 17 at 105.66 PPG. The Houston Rockets field goal percentage has averaged 46.35% so far, more than the New Orleans Pelicans shooters have achieved on the year, 44.66% per game.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Pelicans got a 41-point performance from DeMarcus Cousins as New Orleans handed Memphis a 95-82 defeat on Tuesday at Smoothie King Center.
Houston got 39 points from James Harden en route to a 125-124 victory over Denver on Monday at Toyota Center.
- New Orleans is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
- New Orleans is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Orleans's last 6 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 12 of New Orleans's last 17 games
- Houston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of Houston's last 9 games
- Houston is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games at home
- Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
New Orleans at Denver, Sunday, March 26th
Houston home to Oklahoma City, Sunday, March 26th
