Pelicans vs Rockets
Thu, Dec 18
Final/OT
Pelicans
Pelicans
(5 - 22)
133
-
128
Rockets
Rockets
(16 - 7)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelicans | 24 | 21 | 38 | 36 | 14 | 133 |
| Rockets | 33 | 34 | 32 | 20 | 9 | 128 |
Venue: Smoothie King Center
GAME LEADERS
PTS
REB
AST
Saddiq Bey
NOP | #41 | G/F
29
9
1
Alperen Sengun
HOU | #28 | C
28
11
8
Smart Game Analysis
Houston Rockets has a 72% chance of winning the game
Despite New Orleans' recent two-game win streak, the Rockets' elite defense and star power with Kevin Durant should overwhelm the Pelicans' 28th-ranked defense.
Key Analysis
- • Houston will be without Fred VanVleet and Dorian Finney-Smith, while New Orleans remains without Dejounte Murray.
- • The Rockets feature a potent scoring duo in Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, presenting a mismatch for the Pelicans' struggling interior defense.
- • Houston boasts a top-3 defensive rating and allows only 111.2 points per game, significantly better than the Pelicans' 122.8 points allowed.
- • New Orleans has momentum with two straight wins, whereas Houston is looking to snap a three-game road losing streak after a tight OT loss to Denver.
- • The Rockets rank 1st in the league in offensive rebounding and second-chance points, exploiting a Pelicans team that allows 44.5 rebounds per game.
- • To pull off an upset, the Pelicans must rely on Zion Williamson dominating the paint and the team significantly outshooting their 29th-ranked 3-point average.
