Pelicans vs Rockets prediction NBA · Sunday, January 18
At a glance
The Houston Rockets (24-15) host the New Orleans Pelicans (10-34) on Sunday, January 18 at 7:00 PM ET at Toyota Center (Houston) in NBA action. Final score: Pelicans 110 – Rockets 119. Before tip-off, the Basketlog model gave the Rockets a 87% chance to win: prediction correct. This season, the Rockets are 13-3 at home and the Pelicans are 3-16 on the road. Over the last 10 games: 5-5 for the Rockets and 2-8 for the Pelicans (current streaks: Rockets W1, Pelicans L1).
The analysis Model
On paper, the Rockets dominate this matchup. The model projects Rockets 123 – 109 Pelicans, a margin of about 13.9 points in favor of the Rockets and a total around 231 points. Expect a game at a standard NBA pace.
- The overall strength gap (+5.1 vs -6.6 pts/game) is the main factor.
- The Pelicans need to win the pace battle to stay in the game.
- The Rockets' defense allows clearly fewer points (110.5 pts/game).
What tips the balance
Scenarios
Stat comparison Current season
NOHOU
Top performers
Pelicans
Trey Murphy IIIF · #2521pts / game
Derik QueenC · #225assists
Zion WilliamsonF · #16reboundsRockets
Jabari Smith Jr.F · #1032pts / game
Kevin DurantF · #78assists
Steven AdamsC · #1210reboundsRecent form
NOHOUHead-to-head
HOU lead 3-1 this season.
HOU
Team comparison
| NO | HOU | |
|---|---|---|
| 10-34 | Record | 24-15 |
| 113.9 | Points scored / game | 116.4 |
| 121.6 | Points allowed / game | 110.5 |
| -6.6 | Adjusted margin / game | +5.1 |
| L1 | Current streak | W1 |
| 2-8 | Last 10 games | 5-5 |
| 3-16 road | Home / road record | 13-3 home |
| 21-61 (-9.4) | Last season | 52-30 (+4.5) |
| No | Played yesterday | No |
Injury report Pelicans
Injury report Rockets
Probabilities estimated by the Basketlog model from available public data. They are neither a certainty nor betting advice.