New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets Betting Pick & Prediction 12/19/24
At 8:00 ET, the Houston Rockets (-467) will host the New Orleans Pelicans (+359) in a Southwest Division matchup. The Rockets are favored by 9.5 points, and the over/under line is set at 217.5.
The Pelicans (5-22) have lost four straight games and are 15th in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Rockets (17-9) are 3rd in the West and 2nd in the Southwest Division.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS VS HOUSTON ROCKETS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Houston Rockets -9.5
This game will be played at Toyota Center at 8:00 ET on Thursday, December 19th.
WHY BET THE HOUSTON ROCKETS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 135-109 in favor of the Rockets.
- Our projections have Jalen Green finishing with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
- From the field, we have the Rockets finishing with a field goal percentage of 45.5% and knocking down 14 threes.
Can the Pelicans Pull Off a Win at Houston?
The Pelicans fell to 5-22 on the season after a 119-104 road loss to the Pacers on Sunday. New Orleans entered the game as +7 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 223, falling short of the 230.5 O/U line.
Indiana took control early with a 12-0 run, turning an 8-3 deficit into a 15-8 lead. New Orleans struggled in the 2nd quarter, scoring just 14 points while allowing 28. They tried to rally, scoring 38 points in the 3rd quarter, but still trailed 99-80 heading into the 4th. The Pelicans outscored the Pacers 24-20 in the final period.
In their 119-104 loss to the Pacers, the Pelicans shot just 39.2% from the field and 30.3% from three-point range, making 10 threes overall. Brandon Boston led New Orleans with 20 points, hitting 3 threes at a 75% clip.
Herbert Jones and Dejounte Murray each added 19 points, with Jones scoring 10 in the 3rd quarter. Murray contributed 9 points in the 3rd as well, while Boston added 7 points in both the 1st and 4th quarters.
The Pelicans struggled defensively in the 3rd quarter, giving up 40 points, and allowed the Pacers to shoot 50% from the field in a 119-104 loss. They tightened up in the 4th, holding Indiana to 20 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome their earlier defensive lapses.
New Orleans also had trouble defending the three, as the Pacers hit 16 threes at a 42% clip. The Pelicans sent Indiana to the line 24 times, where they made 21 free throws. Defensively, the Pelicans recorded 11 steals and 4 blocks.
Does Houston Have What it Takes to Win as Home Favorites?
The Rockets fell to 17-9 on the season after a 111-96 loss to the Thunder on Saturday. Houston, who were +5.5 point underdogs, not only lost straight up but also failed to cover the spread. The game’s total of 207 points came in under the pre-game line of 215.
Houston led 20-18 after the 1st quarter but saw the Thunder go on an 11-0 run, stretching the score from 51-48 to 59-51. The Rockets trailed 75-69 going into the 4th quarter, where they were outscored 36-27.
The Rockets struggled offensively in their 111-96 loss to the Thunder, shooting just 36.5% from the field and 23.9% from three-point range, making 11 threes in total. Amen Thompson led the way with 19 points and 7 rebounds, shooting 60% from the floor, while Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr. each added 14 points, with Brooks hitting 4 threes despite shooting 29.4% overall.
Thompson scored 10 of his 19 points in the 2nd quarter, while Brooks added 8 of his 14 in the 3rd. Jabari Smith and Alperen Şengün both contributed 6 points in the 4th quarter, with Şengün scoring 9 of his 13 points in the final period.
Defensively, the Rockets started strong, giving up just 18 points in the 1st quarter, but they struggled in the 2nd half, allowing 34 points in the 3rd and 36 in the 4th, leading to a 111-96 loss to the Thunder. Houston held Oklahoma City to 11 made threes on 36% shooting from beyond the arc.
The Rockets sent the Thunder to the line 32 times, where they converted 28 free throws. Houston gave up just 4 offensive rebounds while recording 7 steals and 3 blocks.