The New Orleans Pelicans (10-34) and Houston Rockets (24-15) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The game will broadcast live on SCHN.
The Rockets are 12.5-point favorites over the Pelicans on the spread, with the over/under set at 229.5 total points. Houston is an 86-cent favorite to win outright, while New Orleans is priced at 15 cents to pull off the upset on Fanatics Markets.
Let's get into my Pelicans vs. Rockets predictions and NBA picks for Sunday, January 18.
Pelicans vs Rockets Prediction
- Pelicans vs Rockets pick: Pelicans +12.5
My Pelicans vs Rockets best bet is on New Orleans to cover the spread, but make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Pelicans vs Rockets Odds
(If you're unfamiliar with Fanatics Markets, read more here.)
Pelicans vs Rockets NBA Preview
The New Orleans Pelicans continue to struggle this season. They hold a 10-34 record, are just 3-16 on the road, and sit last in the Western Conference. They are coming off a loss to the Pacers and have managed only two wins in their last 10 games.
Looking at a larger sample, the trend doesn’t improve for New Orleans. The Pelicans have just three wins over their last 15 games, highlighting the difficulties they’ve had finding any consistency.
Houston, on the other hand, has been solid overall. The Rockets are 24-15 on the season, 13-3 at home, and currently sit fifth in the West. Playing at Toyota Center has been a major advantage for them.
While consistency remains a focus, Houston has protected its home court well. Over their last five games at home, the Rockets have only lost once, falling to the Thunder in a 111-91 defeat.
Injury-wise, Houston is monitoring Tari Eason (ankle), who is currently listed as questionable but is trending toward being out. Meanwhile, Jose Alvarado (oblique) and Herbert Jones (ankle) will both be out in New Orleans for tonight’s game.
Pelicans vs Rockets Prediction, Betting Analysis
The Visitor Recent Dogs Losing Streak system focuses on NBA regular-season matchups where struggling road underdogs offer hidden value.
Teams on short losing streaks, both straight up and against the spread, often become undervalued in the market, as public sentiment turns sharply against them.
These spots tend to produce inflated lines that fail to reflect the small margins separating most NBA teams, especially when the visiting side has already been in the role of the underdog for consecutive games.
Such teams frequently respond with higher energy and focus after a string of poor performances, particularly when traveling, where distractions are limited, and motivation is heightened to end a skid.
This system capitalizes on market overreaction to recent losses, finding edges where perception diverges from reality and resilient road teams quietly bounce back to outperform expectations
Pick: Pelicans +12.5
Spread
Let's take the Pelicans to cover the spread at +12.5.
Moneyline
I don't see value on either side of the moneyline tonight.
Over/Under
No play on the game total.
