New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets Picks and Predictions March 13, 2026

The New Orleans Pelicans travel to the Toyota Center to take on the Houston Rockets this Friday night in a Western Conference clash that features two teams at opposite ends of the standings. New Orleans sits at 22-45 on the season and is currently ranked 13th in the conference. Despite the record they have been playing much better basketball lately under interim coach James Borrego and looking like a difficult out for anyone. The Rockets are having a much stronger campaign with a 40-25 record which places them 3rd in the West as they look to solidify their home court advantage for the postseason. Tipoff is set for 8:00 PM and the game will be broadcast on SCHN.

Houston is looking to find its footing after a massive 36 point loss to Denver earlier this week. They have been one of the most consistent teams in the league but every squad has a stinker now and then. For New Orleans this is a chance to prove their recent winning trend isn’t just a fluke against bottom-tier competition. It should be an interesting battle between Houston’s elite defense and a New Orleans offense that likes to get up as many shots as possible.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets Odds

Bettors should always monitor the latest NBA odds to see if this seven point spread moves before tipoff as late money often comes in on the home favorite.

Team	Moneyline	Spread	Total
New Orleans Pelicans	+233	+7.0 (-110)	O 226.5 (-110)
Houston Rockets	-289	-7.0 (-110)	U 226.5 (-110)

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Form

The Pelicans are playing with a lot of energy right now having won seven of their last ten games. They just handled the Raptors with a 122-111 victory where Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray combined for 55 points. Zion Williamson is also looking more integrated into the offense lately and providing that interior presence they desperately need. From a betting perspective what stands out is their pace. They rank 6th in possessions per game and 5th in field goal attempts which means they are going to get plenty of looks even against a top tier defense.

I think their ability to get to the free throw line is an underrated factor for them staying in games. They rank 6th in free throw attempts and that helps stabilize their floor when the jump shots aren’t falling. You should definitely check the New Orleans Pelicans injury report because their rotation has been a bit thin and any late scratch could swing this line. You can track their progress using the New Orleans Pelicans stats and results to see how they have performed as road underdogs recently.

Houston Rockets Betting Form

Houston is coming off that blowout in Denver but it is probably best to treat that as a total outlier for a team that has been elite at home. Ime Udoka has turned this squad into a defensive powerhouse that allows only 110 points per game which is 4th in the league. They are elite on the glass and lead the NBA in rebounds per game. Having Kevin Durant in the lineup changes everything for their half court execution and his efficiency has been through the roof lately as he just dropped 29 on the Raptors on 75 percent shooting.

Amen Thompson has also been a bright spot and provides a lot of defensive versatility that makes it hard for opposing guards to get comfortable. Even though they had that rough game in Denver they usually control the tempo at the Toyota Center very well. Before placing any bets you should review the Houston Rockets injury report for any late updates on their starters. For more in depth data you can look at the Houston Rockets schedule and stats to see their home splits and defensive rating over the last month.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets Matchup Breakdown

This matchup is a classic clash of styles between a high pace Pelicans offense and a disciplined Rockets defense. New Orleans wants to push the ball and get as many shots up as possible while Houston prefers to grind teams down and win the rebounding battle. The Rockets’ ability to limit opponents to a 45.9 percent shooting mark will be tested by Zion’s ability to get to the rim. Perhaps the most critical part of this game will be how New Orleans handles the glass against the league’s best rebounding team.

If the Pelicans can force turnovers and stay efficient from the free throw line they can keep this within two possessions. However Houston’s home court advantage is real and they rarely let teams get comfortable in transition at the Toyota Center. I think the Rockets will focus on slowing the game down and forcing the Pelicans into half court sets where their defensive rotations can take over.

• Houston leads the league in rebounds per game at 48.2.
• New Orleans ranks 5th in field goal attempts per game.
• The Rockets allow only 110 points per game (4th in NBA).

Using a sports betting strategy guide can help you evaluate how high volume offenses fare against elite defensive units. You can also check the NBA previews hub for more historical data on how these two teams have matched up earlier this season.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets Predictions and Best Bets

I am leaning toward the Pelicans +7.0 in this spot. Houston is clearly the better team on paper but New Orleans has shown a lot of fight lately with seven wins in their last ten games. A seven point spread is quite a bit for a Rockets team that might be feeling some frustration after that Denver blowout. I think Zion and Dejounte Murray can do enough to keep this competitive into the fourth quarter even if Houston ultimately pulls out the victory.

Regarding the total I think the Under 226.5 is the way to go. Houston’s defense is very good at home and they have a tendency to slow the pace down against high volume teams. My projection has this landing around 220 points which gives us a nice cushion on the current line. The Pelicans can score but they might struggle to find their rhythm against Udoka’s defensive schemes which are built to stop isolation scorers.

The value here is on the underdog covering a somewhat inflated number. Houston should win the game but New Orleans has the offensive firepower and the recent form to hang around. It might be a bit of a sweat but the Pelicans have been reliable in this role lately.

Best Bet: Pelicans +7.0 (-110).

NBA Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats

If you are looking for more edges in the betting market our team provides a high volume of today’s NBA picks for every game on the schedule. Our experts look at everything from line movement to referee assignments to find the best value for subscribers. You can compare different styles and see who has the best long term record before making your choice.

You can also check out the handicapper leaderboard to see who is currently leading the pack in profit. For those who want more focused analysis you can buy expert picks or look for top sports handicappers who specialize in Western Conference matchups. Using an NBA betting guide can also help you refine your own process while you follow the pros.