The New Orleans Pelicans (5-25) host the Houston Rockets (20-9) after losing four straight home games. The Rockets are favored by 8.5 points in the matchup, which begins 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 have covered more often than the Pelicans this year, tallying an ATS record of 18-11-0, as opposed to the 11-19-0 mark of the Pelicans.
• Houston covers the spread when it is an 8.5-point favorite or more 50% of the time. That’s more often than New Orleans covers as an underdog of 8.5 or more (27.3%).
• Houston’s games have gone over the total 48.3% of the time this season (14 out of 29), less often than New Orleans’ games have (15 out of 30).
• As a moneyline favorite this season, the Rockets are 16-5, while the Pelicans are 3-20 as moneyline underdogs.

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Rockets Performance Insights

• The Rockets own a top-five defense this season, ranking third-best in the league with 106.3 points allowed per game. Offensively, they rank 13th with 112.9 points scored per contest.
• Houston is allowing 43.6 rebounds per game this season (10th-ranked in NBA), but it has shined by averaging 49.6 rebounds per game (best).
• The Rockets are delivering only 22.6 dimes per contest, which ranks second-worst in the league.
• With 12.9 turnovers per game, Houston ranks sixth in the NBA. It forces 14.2 turnovers per contest, which ranks 14th in the league.
• The Rockets, who are 24th in the league with 11.8 threes per game, are shooting just 32.4% from three-point land, which is second-worst in the NBA.

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Pelicans Performance Insights

• In 2024-25, the Pelicans are worst in the league offensively (105.7 points scored per game) and 25th on defense (117.2 points allowed).
• New Orleans is 22nd in the league in rebounds per game (43.1) and fifth-worst in rebounds conceded (45.7).
• The Pelicans are 25th in the NBA in assists (24 per game) in 2024-25.
• With 14.5 turnovers committed per game and 14 turnovers forced, New Orleans is 17th and 16th in the NBA, respectively.
• The Pelicans are the worst squad in the NBA in 3-pointers made (11.1 per game) and 25th in 3-point percentage (33.2%).

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