The New Orleans Pelicans (5-25) host the Houston Rockets (20-9) after losing four home games in a row. The Rockets are favored by 8.5 points in the matchup, which tips at 8:00 PM ET on Thursday, December 26, 2024.

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Rockets vs. Pelicans Game Info & Odds

• Date: Thursday, December 26, 2024
• Time: 8:00 PM ET
• How to watch on TV: SCHN and Gulf Coast Sports
• Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply)
• Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
• Venue: Smoothie King Center

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Rockets vs. Pelicans Score Prediction

• Prediction:
  Rockets 117 – Pelicans 104

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Spread & Total Prediction for Rockets vs. Pelicans

• Pick ATS: Rockets (- 8.5)
• Computer Predicted Spread: Rockets (-12.2)
• Pick OU:

  Under (222.5)
  

• Computer Predicted Total: 221.1

• The Rockets (18-11-0 ATS) have covered the spread 62.1% of the time, 25.4% more often than the Pelicans (11-19-0) this year.
• Houston (3-3) covers a higher percentage of games when it is favored by 8.5 points or more this season (50%) than New Orleans (3-8) does as an 8.5+-point underdog (27.3%).
• When it comes to going over the point total in 2024-25, Houston does it less often (48.3% of the time) than New Orleans (50%).
• As a moneyline favorite this year, the Rockets are 16-5, while the Pelicans are 3-20 as moneyline underdogs.

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Rockets Performance Insights

• The Rockets have been carried by their defense, as they rank third-best in the NBA by allowing only 106.3 points per game. They rank 13th in the league in points scored (112.9 per contest).
• Houston ranks best in the NBA by grabbing 49.6 boards per game. In terms of rebounds allowed, it ranks 10th in the league (43.6 allowed per contest).
• The Rockets are putting up just 22.6 dimes per game, which ranks second-worst in the league.
• This year, Houston is averaging 12.9 turnovers per game (sixth-ranked in NBA) and forcing 14.2 turnovers per contest (14th-ranked).
• The Rockets rank second-worst in the NBA with a 32.4% shooting percentage from downtown. Meanwhile, they are draining 11.8 three-pointers per game (25th-ranked in league).

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Pelicans Performance Insights

• On offense, the Pelicans are the worst team in the NBA (105.7 points per game). Defensively, they are 25th (117.2 points allowed per game).
• On the glass, New Orleans is 22nd in the NBA in rebounds (43.1 per game). It is fifth-worst in rebounds conceded (45.7 per game).
• With 24.0 assists per game, the Pelicans are 25th in the league.
• At 14.5 turnovers committed per game and 14.0 turnovers forced, New Orleans is 17th and 16th in the league, respectively.
• Beyond the arc, the Pelicans are worst in the league in 3-pointers made per game (11.1). And they are fifth-worst in 3-point percentage at 33.2%.

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