Houston Rockets at New Orleans Pelicans odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Tuesday’s Houston Rockets at New Orleans Pelicans NBA odds and lines, with basketball picks, tips and predictions.

The Houston Rockets (11-12) travel to meet the New Orleans Pelicans (10-12) Tuesday at Smoothie King Center for a 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off. Below, we analyze the Rockets-Pelicans NBA odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

Rockets at Pelicans: Odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:25 a.m. ET.

  • Money line: Rockets +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Pelicans -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
  • Against the spread/ATS: Rockets +5.5 (-110) | Pelicans -5.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under: 222.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Rockets at Pelicans: Key injuries

Rockets

  • SG Victor Oladipo (rest) out
  • SG Eric Gordon (rest) out
  • PG John Wall (rest) out
  • PG Dante Exum (calf) out
  • PF Christian Wood (ankle) out

Pelicans

  • SG Josh Hart (back) questionable

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Rockets at Pelicans: Odds, lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Pelicans 111, Rockets 103

Money line (ML)

The Pelicans (-225) have won three in a row, all as slight underdogs, since a two-game losing skid Jan. 30 and Feb. 1. That modest two-game slide included a 126-112 loss against the Rockets at this very venue.

The Pels are playing much better lately, and the Rockets have dropped three of their past four. That includes an ugly 119-94 loss in Charlotte Monday night.

Still, PASS on the expensive money line price. There’s better value on the spread.

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Against the spread (ATS)

The PELICANS -5.5 (-110) are the play here despite their loss in the most recent meeting with the Rockets in Crescent City Jan. 30. There is just too much concern with the Rockets playing on consecutive days. and their top four players won’t be playing.

They’re 3-7 ATS across the past 10 when playing in the second end of a back-to-back set.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 222.5 (-110) is the way to be, as the Rockets should have some tired legs after playing less than 24 hours ago, and then traveling, too.

The Under is 19-6-1 in the past 26 meetings in the Big Easy. While the Over is 9-1 in the past 10 at home for New Orleans, play the Under against the struggling Rockets.

Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

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Houston Rockets at New Orleans Pelicans odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Saturday’s Houston Rockets at New Orleans Pelicans NBA betting odds and lines, with basketball picks, tips and predictions.

The New Orleans Pelicans (7-10) host the Houston Rockets (8-9) Saturday in their second game in as many days at the Smoothie King Center. The tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Rockets-Pelicans NBA odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

Rockets at Pelicans: Odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:45 p.m. ET.

  • Money line: Rockets -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Pelicans -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
  • Against the spread/ATS: Rockets -1.5 (-110) | Pelicans +1.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under: 222.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Rockets at Pelicans: Key injuries

Rockets

  • PG Dante Exum (calf) out

Pelicans

  • None.

Special NBA Betting Promotion!

Place a $1 bet on either team’s money line, WIN an additional $100 (in free bets) if either team hits a 3-pointer during the game today. Promotion available in CO, IN, MI, NJ, TN, VA and WV. IA and PA residents, don’t miss BetMGM‘s risk-free, first-bet offer!

Place your legal, online sports bets at BetMGM! Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Rockets at Pelicans: Odds, lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Rockets 113, Pelicans 107

Money line (ML)

Quietly Houston’s first-year head coach Stephen Silas is doing a pretty good job given the circumstances. Since the Rockets moved on from James Harden, they have a 5-2 record (4-3 ATS) and are now a plus-net rating team.

Also, the Rockets are playing a pro-analytics style of basketball. Houston shoots the seventh-most threes per game and gets to the rim at the third-highest rate in the Association, according to CleaningTheGlass.com. Now their 3-point percentage is nothing to brag about, but, woof, is New Orleans’ 3-point defense bad (22nd in opponent’s 3-point percentage).

Rockets C Christian Wood can create a lot of spacing for Houston’s offense as Wood shoots the third-most threes per game on the active roster. If Wood can stretch the floor and get Pelicans C Steven Adams out of the paint it will open driving lanes for John Wall and Victor Oladipo.

New Orleans attempts the seventh-most field goals per game within five feet of the basket, but Houston is actually a solid ninth in opponent’s field goal percentage within that range.

Wood is a big reason for Houston’s surprisingly good interior defense as he’s in the top-20 in defensive win shares, defensive rating, blocks per game and rebounding percentage. Also, doesn’t it help to have a cagey defensive veteran like PF P.J. Tucker to check Zion Williamson?

GIMME ROCKETS (-115). 

Against the spread (ATS)

PASS. Just pay the vig with Houston, there’s no sense in messing with the points here.

Over/Under (O/U)

Houston has played some pretty good defense lately—first in points allowed over its last five games and sixth in defensive rating on the year. Granted, the competition is nothing to write home about, but the Rockets are getting it done on defense. Plus there’s value in betting an Under in a Pelicans game right after they beat the Milwaukee Bucks in a 131-126 shootout Friday.

However, I’d only put a small wager on OVER 222.5 (-110) because the last six New Orleans’ games have gone Over the total and nine of its last 10.

Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Geoff Clark on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Also see: 

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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