The Houston Rockets (16-7) and New Orleans Pelicans (5-22) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. EST from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. The game will broadcast live on SCHN.
The Rockets are 9.5-point favorites over the Pelicans on the spread (Rockets -9.5), with the over/under set at 234.5 total points. Houston is a -450 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while New Orleans is +325 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Rockets vs. Pelicans predictions and NBA picks for Thursday, December 18.
My Rockets vs Pelicans Prediction
- Rockets vs Pelicans pick: Over 234.5 (-110)
My Pelicans vs Rockets best bet is on the over, with the best price currently available at bet365. However, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Rockets vs Pelicans Odds
| Rockets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9.5 -110 | 234.5 -110o / -110u | -450 |
| Pelicans Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9.5 -110 | 234.5 -110o / -110u | +325 |
Rockets vs Pelicans NBA Preview
I'm backing the over in the Pelicans-Rockets matchup. I want to check the market and see what the best line is, but it started trending down a little from 235.5 points to 233.5.
Unless there is injury news that we don't know about yet, it can't go lower than that. I have to think that it's going to kick back up before tipoff.
We have the Pelicans getting healthier and playing faster, with Zion Williamson and Jordan Poole back, and the way that Derik Queen is grabbing rebounds.
New Orleans has two bigs who will grab rebounds and then immediately start pushing the offense, right?
I call this the "No point guard" theory, even though they're going to have point guards out there, but whoever grabs the rebound can start the offense, so you end up getting the ball across half-court really fast.
This has been something the Pacers have been very consistent in doing during the Haliburton era. They get the ball past half-court fastest in the NBA. The Pelicans are starting to run a similar offense.
It's no surprise that James Borrego, who's a very offensive-minded coach, is starting to make some changes after a few weeks at the helm, and you see a different play style.
Rockets vs Pelicans Prediction, Betting Analysis
I really like backing overs for the Pelicans right now, and in a matchup against the Rockets, this should be a high-athleticism, high-pace game.
We are near a basement price here, barring injury news.
Plus, the Pelicans at home this year are 11-4 to the over. Love that.
Pick: Over 234.5 (-110, bet365)
