Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans Betting Pick & Prediction for 12/18

The Houston Rockets will visit the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on Thursday, December 18, 2025. The game is set to start at 8:00 PM and will be broadcast on SCHN. The Rockets have a strong start to the season with a 16-7 record, while the Pelicans are struggling with a 5-22 record.

Houston’s head coach, Ime Udoka, has guided his team to a good position in the Western Conference. They are currently ranked fifth in the conference and second in the Southwest Division. On the other hand, the Pelicans, under interim coach James Borrego, sit at the bottom of the conference and division rankings. Both teams will aim to improve their standing in this early-season game.

Rockets vs Pelicans Game Day Info

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Houston Rockets vs. New Orleans Pelicans
• Venue: Smoothie King Center
• Date: Thursday, December 18, 2025
• Betting Odds: Rockets -10.0 (-111), Pelicans +10.0 (-110), Rockets MoneyLine -436, Pelicans MoneyLine +338, Over/Under 233.5

Houston Rockets Team Preview

The Houston Rockets are coming off a close game against the Denver Nuggets, where they lost 128-125. Alperen Sengün stood out with a triple-double, recording 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Kevin Durant also contributed significantly with 25 points and 7 assists.

In their recent games, the Rockets have shown strong offensive stats. They average 120.8 points per game, ranking fourth in the league. Their field goal percentage stands at 48.7%, placing them fifth, and they lead the league in rebounds per game with 48.7.

For the upcoming game, the Rockets will rely on key players like Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengün. Durant averages 24.8 points per game, while Sengün adds 23.5 points and 9.4 rebounds. Amen Thompson, projected to start, contributes 17.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

New Orleans Pelicans Team Preview

The New Orleans Pelicans have been showing strong performances recently. They won against the Chicago Bulls with a score of 114-104. Trey Murphy III and Jeremiah Fears both contributed 20 points each in this game.

Offensively, the Pelicans rank 23rd in points per game with 114.2. They attempt a high number of field goals, ranking 7th in this category. However, their shooting percentage is 46.1, placing them at 20th in the league.

On defense, the Pelicans allow 122.8 points per game, which ranks them 28th. They are second in blocked shots per game with 3.7. But they struggle with opponent field goal percentage, allowing 49.3%, which ranks them 29th.

BTB Betting Pick

The Houston Rockets are favored by 10 points against the New Orleans Pelicans. With the Rockets scoring 120.8 points per game and the Pelicans allowing 122.8, the Rockets are likely to cover the spread. The Pelicans struggle defensively, so the pick is the Rockets -10.

The total for the game is set at 233.5 points. The Rockets’ strong offense and the Pelicans’ weak defense suggest a high-scoring game. With both teams’ scoring and defensive stats, the projected score could exceed the total. The recommendation is to take the Over 233.5.