Houston Rockets vs Pelicans Prediction and Betting Tips 20 Dec 2024 - NBA Prediction
NLB Staff
20.12.2024 01:11
Houston Rockets vs Pelicans Prediction
As Houston enters this game having been one of the most unstoppable forces in NBA play, they play an injured unit in New Orleans. With the Rockets coming off a tough 111-96 loss to the Thunder, this New Orleans had a very rough defeat against Indiana. This game will be played on December 20th at 6:30 A.M. IST in Toyota Center. Below are our key betting tips, head-to-head trends, vital player props, and important injuries heading into this game.
Houston Rockets vs Pelicans Key Betting Tips & Predictions
1. Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans Moneyline Pick
Looking at the money line being -390 in this game, this should be taken due to Houston having much more talent. Led by Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green in their backcourt, this duo shout outscore plus have more assists than Dejounte Murray in addition to CJ McCollum. Having a very aggressive small forward in Dillon Brooks who should lockdown Trey Murphy’s game and have more rebounds, power forward Jabari Smith will have a boards plus scoring advantage against Herbet Jones. With Alperen Sengun being a great all-around center against Yves Missi, this Pelicans squad should win this -390 money line with ease and start their new streak.
2. Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans Point Spread Pick
Seeing that the Rockets have a -8.5 spread during this matchup, it looks like a great pick because they have so much improvement on defense to be a top-tier all-around team. Having Fred VanVleet at point guard, his ability to pass has now been added with a great scoring prowess from both inside or outside. Being that short, very unconventional shooting guard, his athleticism takes it to the next level and will be something a great defender like Dejounte Murray will also have a tough time guarding. Even though Murray is a great passer plus a solid scorer in his own right, VanVleet will continuously put pressure on him and force him into a multitude of bad passes. With Jalen Green being a strong shooting guard who continues providing immense help from deep, his greatness as a driver has started showing too. Knowing that he gets to line up against someone like CJ McCollum, Green should dominate this matchup as a much quicker piece that creates strong dribbles. Recreating his defensive game as well, the Rockets' shooting guard should have many closeouts against McColloum from deep and create turnovers too. Knowing that Dillon Brooks continues being a top defender for this unit, his body control and size will not Trey Murphy drive in with ease. As a stronger rebounder too, Brooks should grab them at his own will and turn it into threes down the other end. With Jabari Smith Jr. ready to outplay Herb Jones as a scorer, defender, and rebounder, Alperen Sengun’s all-around prowess should dominate Yves Missi. Therefore, this -8.5 spread looks great for Houston.
3. Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans Over/Under Pick (Total Points)
As the over/under for both teams is at 231, this game will have several great scorers who can create their own looks. With New Orleans led by one of the best passing guards, his ability to cut inside for layups and hit deeper looks is key. Having a shooting guard next to him who hits his long-range shots at a good rate, their small forward continues showing progress as an inside plus outside scorer. Knowing that the power forward can provide some high-energy dunks or threes, this group’s center continues being a great put-back piece. Meanwhile, Houston has one of the most athletic point guards that can create for others plus finish floater or deeper shots. Seeing their shooting guard continue developing as a specialist from long-range and having tons of energy to put buckets inside, this group’s small forward is their main knock-down shooter from beyond the arc. Having a small forward who’s strong in his floater game and creates layups, their center remains the top all-around piece for this offense. This game should go over the 235 combined points when these teams met last time.
Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans Top Player Props
Alperen Sengun over 20.5 points at 1.67: As the Rockets center continues providing a high-scoring offensive game from inside or deep for this offense, he should have another imposing performance. Being a piece that goes against a smaller defender in Yves Missi, Sengun should be able to beat the Pelicans center’s rising blocking ability with great finishes and knockdown shots. Averaging 18.6 points a night, he will go well over his season average in this matchup.
Herbert Jones under 11.5 points at 1.80: Seeing that the Pelicans' power forward has struggled to finish at the rim or knock down long-range looks consistently, he will have a tough time against a great defense. Having to face a massive piece in Jabari Smith Jr., Herbert Jones will be forced outside a lot and get many of his layup or floater opportunities blocked. Being someone who puts in 11.2 points a game, he will hit the under on the line.
Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans Injury News & Impact
Houston Rockets Injuries: Heading into this game, the Houston Rockets don’t have any current injuries and should run out with similar lineups.
New Orleans Pelicans Injuries: As the Pelicans remain one of the most injury-riddled units in NBA play, this group will be without Zion Williamson, 22.7 points, due to a left hamstring issue, and Brandon Ingram, 22.2 points, from an ankle problem. Having no Jordan Hawkins because of a back injury, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is out because he has an illness. Adding more, Jose Alvardo, 10.7, will be missing alongside youngster Karlo Matkovic due to a back issue.
Houston Rockets vs Pelicans Head-to-Head Trends
Although New Orleans won the past two games against this Rockets squad, things will change with Houston being way stronger as a team. Trying to build a streak of their own, the Rockets have scored over 100 points in 9 of their 10 past matchups, while Houston averages 103.3 during past 3 head-to-heads. Being 3-3 against the spread over their past game against New Orleans, Houston hopes to take advantage of this record.
Betting Insights & Public Trends
Looking at the public trends and betting insights, this Houston squad is favored by 79.6% of bettors to beat New Orleans in the game.
Houston Rockets vs Pelicans Final Prediction
Seeing that Houston enters this game having surprised everyone and even got a chance to play in NBA Cup quarterfinals, they will go up against a very weak Pelicans unit. As New Orleans has entered this game on a bit of a tough stretch, the Rockets should control it from tip-off time. Led by Fred VanVleet, he continues being a great passer and one of the top-tier finishers that can do it from nearly anywhere. A piece that has developed a very strong three-point game, his ability to also drive in through dribbles shows the elite quickness against someone like Dejounte Murray. Although Murray is known to be a pretty good defender, his abilities will not be that great in this matchup due to VanVleet’s mismatch with his small size. As VanVleet can also deflect a ton of Murray’s passes on the other end, he can turn them into fast break buckets. Next to him is Jalen Green one of the top-tier shooters who can continue finishing with ease near his hoop, while also having improvement in rebounding. Going up against CJ McColloum’s weak defense, Green should have a very strong outing and finish comfortably every time he attacks the hoop. Being known for stealing abilities and closing out, he will limit CJ’s three-point ability, while also being the much more aggressive force when in painted areas.
At small forward is Dillon Brooks, who remains a top-tier defender and one of the best pieces that can cover perimeter areas. Having great body control and size, he should lockdown Trey Murphy with blocks plus steals and also cause him to force outside shots throughout this game. Being a great dunker and three-point shooter himself, he can create several transition opportunities with pace throughout. Having Jabari Smith Jr. be a great finisher and someone who can block, he should have a dominant performance against a defensive-minded Herb Jones. With Alperen Sengun getting more rebounds and being a great all-around player, he should dominate Yves Missi throughout this game. Having Amen Thompson and Tari Eason on the bench, Houston should dominate unless Brandon Boston and Javonte Green can close into the score.
Our prediction: Houston Rockets win and cover their -8.5 spread, while the score goes over 231 points.
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