Pelicans vs Rockets

The Houston Rockets visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. We continue our NBA odds series with a Rockets-Pelicans prediction and pick.

New Orleans ranks in the top five in both scoring and rebounding, while still ranking in the top half of the league in defense. While he averages under 25 minutes per game, the burley big man still manages to score 13.5 PPG and pull down 9.4 RPG. The Pelicans still have a talented roster that, on paper, should be able to take care of the taking Rockets. He’s shown the ability to step up in Zion’s absence, averaging 22.3 PPG and 8.3 APG in eight games without Williamson this season. The Pelicans covered 51% of their games while 60% of their games went over. That being said, the Rockets winning typically coincides with a big game from one of the two. The Rockets covered 49% of their games while 51% of their games went under the projected point total. If Green is hot tonight the Rockets could easily cover a hefty road spread. While they rank in the bottom half of the league in both offense and defense, the one thing they do exceptionally well is rebound. He’s shooting 56% from the field and a stellar 79% from the free-throw line. While Sengun could swing the game down low, Houston typically goes where guards Kevin Porter Jr. The second-year big man has taken a huge step forward this season after sporadic playing time as a rookie.

The Houston Rockets will try to end their current four-game losing streak against the Pelicans, who will be without their All-Star duo of Brandon Ingram and ...

The Rockets are 1-9 during their last 10 games. McCollum is currently averaging 24.0 points in the absence of Williamson. Nance came off the bench and added 22 points and nine rebounds in the Pelicans' first and only meeting against the Rockets. He has averaged 25.0 points on 44.9 percent shooting from the field and 50.0 percent from behind the arc. McCollum has scored 40 or more points twice during the stretch. They are 12-6 in the absence of Ingram and 6-2 without Williamson. But the Pelicans have proven to be a good team without their top two players. 12](https://www.si.com/nba/rockets/news/houston-rockets-game-13-notebook-stephen-silas-kevin-porter-loss-pelicans). The Pelicans will be without two of their top players. His statement came after the Rockets committed 25 turnovers against the Knicks. He has recorded 24.0 points on 52.6/41.4/78.6 shooting splits, 7.0 assists and 1.1 steals. At the end of it, I hope we became more together as a group."

Visit ESPN for the game recap of the Houston Rockets vs. New Orleans Pelicans NBA basketball game on January 4, 2023.

[Jalen Green](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4437244/jalen-green) and [Kenyon Martin Jr](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4431828/kenyon-martin-jr). [Jabari Smith](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/793/jabari-smith) Jr. had 14 points and 13 rebounds, while [Eric Gordon](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3431/eric-gordon) and [Alperen Sengun](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4871144/alperen-sengun) each added 13 points for the Rockets. “We have to be better closing out games,” Green said. The Pelicans snapped a two-game skid in their first game since learning star power forward [Zion Williamson](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4395628/zion-williamson) would be sidelined about three weeks by a strained right hamstring. He understands the situation.”

The Houston Rockets (10-27) play against the New Orleans Pelicans (14-14) at Smoothie King Center Live Stream: fuboTV (Watch for free) NBA League Pass: The ...

– [8:41 PM](https://twitter.com/AdamJWexler/status/1610813699073216513) [Andrew Lopez](https://twitter.com/_Andrew_Lopez)@ [_Andrew_Lopez](https://twitter.com/_Andrew_Lopez) Pels 50-27 now early 2Q – [8:43 PM](https://twitter.com/Jim_Eichenhofer/status/1610814181229445120) [Tom Orsborn](https://twitter.com/tom_orsborn)@ [tom_orsborn](https://twitter.com/tom_orsborn) [@DraftKings](https://twitter.com/DraftKings) [#Pelicans](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Pelicans)start fast and lead 16-6. [@NTGraff](https://twitter.com/NTGraff)had anything to do with that. [@Alperen Sengun](https://twitter.com/alperennsengun) [@KJ Martin](https://twitter.com/kj__martin) [#Pelicans](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Pelicans) [@RocketsWatch](https://twitter.com/RocketsWatch)at 10am CT. He just loves basketball.” – Not sure which official got him, but the Rockets weren’t thrilled with Jason Goldenberg’s work the last time they saw him – In 14 minutes off the bench, he’s got 14 points on 6 of 10 (2-4 3 3FGM).

Jalen Green and Kenyon Martin Jr. each scored 16 points for Houston, with Martin hitting all seven of his shots. Jabari Smith Jr. had 14 points and 13 rebounds, ...

''We love that he fought for us and he doesn't want us to be the one to be ejected or getting technicals. ... Fell to 4-16 on the road. had 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Eric Gordon and Alperen Sengun each added 13 points for the Rockets. ... Shot 44.3% (39 of 88) overall and 31.6% (12 of 38) from 3-point range. The Pelicans' led 63-32 after one of Jose Alvarado's three 3-pointers. That's the best way to play, I think.'' ''We have to be better closing out games,'' Green said. They dropped their fifth straight game and lost for the 10th time in 11 contests. McCollum's ability to set the tone with other top producers out of the lineup is ''the reason he's the leader he is,'' Pelicans coach Willie Green said. So, he took that one for us.'' He understands the situation.'' ''No one person is going to replace what he does,'' McCollum said.

Early in the second quarter, the Houston Rockets trailed the Pelicans by 31 points en route to a 119-108 road loss in New Orleans.

[road victory against the Chicago Bulls](https://www.si.com/nba/rockets/news/houston-rockets-vs-bulls-takeaways-alperen-senguns-impact-ball-movement-jalen-green-breaks-out-of-slump) on Dec. Martin](https://www.si.com/nba/rockets/news/houston-rockets-kj-martin-improvement-eric-gordon-loss-to-knicks) wasted one of his best career games on a night the Rockets had no chance of winning. [Josh Christopher](https://www.si.com/nba/rockets/news/houston-rockets-recall-josh-christopher-g-league-stephen-silas) proved why he should be receiving minutes as a rotational player. "As a leader, as a point guard of my team, I got to make sure we are prepared and come out the right way, and I didn't do that today. He also provided Houston with solid contributions on the defensive end with a pair of steals and a block. The Rockets outscored New Orleans 35-21 and cut their large deficit to seven with 47.0 seconds left in the period. But the remaining 30 minutes of play illustrated the Rockets taking control of the game. "But it has to be right from the start. Houston fell into a 10-point deficit (16-6) five minutes into the first quarter. He was annoyed by the lack of calls. They spread the ball around and used it as an opportunity for their players to play — and play hard. Turnovers were the major issue in their play against the New York Knicks, while late-game execution led to a five-point defeat to the Dallas Mavericks.