There will be another exciting Western Conference contest on the NBA schedule on Thursday as the New Orleans Pelicans host the Houston Rockets. New Orleans is 17-45 overall, 11-19 at home, Houston is 37-25 overall and 20-10 on the road. The Rockets won each of their first two head-to-head meetings this season, most recently beating the Pelicans 128-111 in New Orleans on December 26th.
Tip-offs are set from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans until 8pm. According to Sportsline consensus, Houston is backing five points in the latest Pelican vs. Rockets odds. Over/under is 230.5 points. Before you get into the Rockets and Pelican picks, you need to check the NBA forecasts from the Sportsline model.
Sportsline Projection Model simulates all NBA games 10,000 times, and has well over $10,000 in betting profits from players with $100 on the best NBA picks over the past six seasons. The model enters week 20 of the 2024-25 NBA season and returns about $4,000 in a hot 147-107 roll on all the top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season. He also has an outstanding 18-10 (64%) in top-rate spread picks this season. Everyone follows Sportsbook And on Betting app You could have seen a big return.
The model is aiming for Houston vs. New Orleans. Head to the sports line and see the pick. There are several NBA betlines for Pelican vs. Rocket:
Rocket vs. Pelican spread: Rocket-5rockets vs. Pelican Over/Under: 230.5 Points Rocket vs. Pelican Money Line: Rocket-186, Pelican +156hou: Rockets is 18-12-1 against Roadno’s Spread (ATS): Pelican covers the Pickets spread of three straight home games. vs. Pelikan Streaming: fubotv (try it for free)
Why can rockets cover?
The Rockets have back-to-back losses, but both games played safely against the team in the postseason for the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. These teams compete for titles, but the Pelicans are in the mix of the overall picks fourth in the league, number one in the alarm clock. Houston Center’s Alperen Senggun scored at least 23 points in five of his last six games. This has scored at least 25 points in the back-to-back contest and six double-doubles in the last eight contests. The 6-11 Sengun will provide key sizes for the Pelican lineup with Zion Williamson and Kelly Olynyk.
Houston has a sixth-place scoring defense (109.4 ppg) while allowing the league’s fifth-lowest shooting percentage (45.6%). The Rockets allow the second-made 3-pointer (12.2 per game). Houston scored each of his first two heads with at least 17 points this season. Check out the teams you choose here.
Why Pelicans Can Cover
It’s been a challenging season for New Orleans, but the Pelicans have played their best basketball in recent weeks. New Orleans has been 4-2 in their last six games and has scored four wins in their second six-game stretch this year. A healthy Williamson was key to the team’s success as New Orleans was 4-1 in five games played on that stretch and the only loss to the Lakers that they won seven straight games against the Lakers.
Williamson averages 25.6 ppg on that stretch, including 37 points in a 136-115 loss to the Lakers on Tuesday. He shot over 60% off the field in three consecutive games, earning 27 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in a 124-116 victory over the Suns on Thursday. Olynic had 26 points and nine rebounds on Sunday, supplementing Williamson as the Pelican could surprise Houston on Thursday. Check out the teams you choose here.
How to make a rocket and pelican pick
This model simulated 10,000 Pelican vs. rockets, resulting in results. The model is tilted, projecting 221 total points, saying one side of the spread is hit at almost 60% of the time. You can only see the picks on the sports line.
So, which side of the spread hits in almost 60% of the simulation, who will beat Rocket vs Pelican? Go to the Sports Line now to see which side of the Pelican or the rocket needs to jump. See everything from models that have been on the 147-107 roll on top-rate NBA picks since last season.
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