The Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans have had very different seasons so far. Things could not be going better for the Rockets, as they sit with a 16-7 record and are just two games out of second place in the Western Conference. Kevin Durant has seamlessly slotted into the lineup alongside a talented core of young prospects. The addition of a legitimate scoring threat has turned the Rockets from good to great, and they will be confident in their odds of taking down the lowly Pelicans.
New Orleans is 5-22 so far this season, but they have won back-to-back games for the first time this year. Injuries have had a role to play, but there are still no excuses for their miserable record. Will the Rockets be able to take care of business on the road, or will the Pelicans pick up a rare home win in front of the New Orleans faithful? Let’s jump into the NBA odds breakdown with expert NBA predictions to find out.
Matchup: Rockets vs Pelicans Overview
- Teams: Houston Rockets at New Orleans Pelicans
- Date: Thursday, December 18th, 2025
- Time: Tip-off is at 8:00 PM EST
- Venue: Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana
Win Probabilities:
The NBA win probabilities have given the Houston Rockets a 90.77% chance of winning this matchup. The Rockets are sitting near the top of the Western Conference, while the Pelicans have secured only 5 wins this season, and are dead last in the conference. The chances are slim, but the Pelicans still have a 9.23% chance of pulling off a dramatic upset according to the NBA win probabilities.
Projected Final Score:
The projected final score can be calculated using a combination of expert NBA predictions and insights from recent games. For the upcoming matchup between the Pelicans and Rockets, the projected final score is Houston Rockets 129-116 New Orleans Pelicans.
Rockets vs Pelicans Odds
The NBA odds point to a clear winner in this matchup, with the Houston Rockets coming in as heavy road favorites. The Rockets have been able to lean on their strong offense to push the pace of play, and it is no surprise to see them as big favorites on the basketball odds. For the total points, neither of these teams thrive on the defensive end of the court, which is why the NBA odds for the total points are quite high.
Expert Prediction: Who Wins?
Why the Houston Rockets Could Win
The Houston Rockets are top ten in both offensive and defensive rating this season, while the Pelicans are bottom ten in both of those categories. One of these teams has legitimate title dreams, while the other is just looking to hit the reset button on the franchise. However, the Rockets cannot overlook New Orleans, as they are a much more dangerous team than their lowly record suggests. The Rockets will need to take this game seriously or risk being on the wrong end of one of the biggest upsets of the season.
Houston’s length on the perimeter is what really sets them apart from every other team in the league. Josh Okogie is the shortest starter at 6’4, while the rest of the Rockets are all 6’7 or taller. This allows Houston to deflect passes, generate turnovers, and cause mayhem on the defensive end of the court. Houston has always been a consistent team on defense, and the arrival of a scorer like Durant has really turned them into a true contender.
The Pelicans don’t have anyone to keep up with Durant on offense, and they don’t have the defense to slow him down; this could easily become a blowout midway through the game. If you can secure favorable NBA odds on the Rockets, they are a great Rockets vs Pelicans prediction to make.
Why the New Orleans Pelicans Could Win
The Pelicans have some momentum? It’s not the time to start planning the parade, but two straight wins for the Pelicans are a step in the right direction during their horrific season. Dejounte Murray remains out with a broken wrist, but the rest of the Pelicans’ stars have all made their return to the court.
Zion Williamson is a hard man to slow down, and the lengthy list of young talent around him will allow the Pelicans to stay competitive. Alperen Sengun struggles to slow down physical centers, and if Williamson can cause havoc in the paint, the Pelicans may be able to pull off this upset. On the outside, Jordan Poole, Jeremiah Fears, and Saddiq Bey are all healthy and ready to go.
The length Houston brings to the court, especially on the perimeter, makes them a tough team to unlock. However, Poole’s unique scoring ability, combined with playmakers all over the court, will allow New Orleans to find some success. They are without a traditional point guard, as center Derrick Queen leads the team with 4.1 assists per game. Maybe that will be the ingredient that tilts the scales in favor of New Orleans. Even if the Pelicans don’t win, they may be worth a look if the point spread is double digits for the home team.
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