- Matchup: Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans
- Date: Thursday, December 18, 2025
- Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
- Broadcast: Gulf Coast Sports
- Betting Line: Houston favored by 10.5 points
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The New Orleans Pelicans (5-22) are set to take on the Houston Rockets (16-7) at the Smoothie King Center on Thursday. Houston enters as 10.5-point favorites, with an over/under of 233 points.
In their previous game, the Rockets faced the Nuggets but fell short, losing 128-125. Houston committed 25 fouls compared to Denver’s 28. They successfully made 15 out of 34 three-point attempts. Meanwhile, the Nuggets showcased impressive shooting, converting 27 of 33 free throws for an 81.8% success rate. Denver dominated the boards with 38 rebounds (7 offensive, 31 defensive) and registered 8 blocks. They also recorded 24 assists and 10 steals. On defense, Houston allowed their opponents to shoot 50.6% from the field, letting Denver score on 43 of 85 attempts. Houston tallied 29 assists while forcing 11 turnovers and notching 7 steals. They secured 46 rebounds, 12 of which were offensive, and made 19 out of 26 free throws, resulting in a 73.1% free throw rate. Overall, the Rockets posted a field goal percentage of 50.5% with 47 of 93 shots made, including 12 of 25 from three-point territory.
Alperen Sengun made a significant impact in the last game, shooting 51.9% from the field while dishing out 10 assists. He played 42 minutes and collected 10 rebounds, finishing with an impressive 33 points on 14 of 27 shooting.
The Houston Rockets head into this matchup with a record of 16-7. They average 16.1 turnovers per game and commit 20.5 fouls each night. As a team, the Rockets secure 48.7 rebounds per game and have recorded 587 assists this season, ranking 30th in the NBA. They are shooting 39.9% from beyond the arc (272 out of 681) and hitting 79.0% from the free-throw line. On average, the Rockets score 120.8 points per game, placing them 4th in the league, while shooting 48.7% from the field.
On the defensive end, the Rockets force 14.2 turnovers per game and commit 22.5 personal fouls. They rank first in the league for assists allowed, with 559 given up this season. Houston’s defense permits a field goal percentage of 46.0% (930 out of 2,023) while allowing 37.5 rebounds per game. They limit opponents to 34.5% shooting from three-point range and rank 3rd in points allowed per game, conceding only 111.2.
In their latest game, the Pelicans triumphed 114-104 over the Bulls. New Orleans allowed Chicago to grab a total of 43 rebounds (13 offensive). They struggled from three-point territory, shooting 26.5% with 13 of 49 attempts, but managed a solid 15 of 17 from the charity stripe (88.2%). Chicago shot 38 of 92 from the field, resulting in a 41.3% shooting percentage. The Pelicans converted 43 of 93 field-goal attempts for an overall rate of 46.2% and sank 8 out of 33 three-pointers (24.2%). They achieved a free-throw percentage of 80.0% by making 20 out of 25 attempts. The Bulls committed 24 fouls, allowing the Pelicans 25 free throw opportunities. New Orleans also had 39 defensive rebounds and 14 offensive rebounds, totaling 53 for the game.
Jeremiah Fears was a key contributor for the Pelicans, scoring 20 points in 28 minutes on the floor with 7 of 13 shooting (53.8%) and pulling down 2 rebounds along with 3 assists.
So far, the Pelicans hold a 5-22 record this season. Offensively, they are shooting 46.1% from the field, ranking 20th in the league. New Orleans has amassed 3,083 points this season, averaging 114.2 points per game. They collect 42.9 rebounds per game and average 24.7 assists (27th in the NBA) while committing 14.6 turnovers. The Pelicans average 20.5 fouls per game and have a free throw percentage of 78.4%.
Defensively, New Orleans allows 36.3% shooting from three-point range (412 of 1,136) and 81.2% from the free-throw line. They concede an average of 28.8 assists and 44.5 rebounds per game, ranking them 27th and 19th, respectively. The Pelicans sit at 28th in points allowed with an average of 122.8 per game. They force 15.3 turnovers per game but allow opponents to score at a 49.3% shooting rate from the field (29th in the league).
Who will cover the spread in tonight’s NBA matchup?
Prediction: Bet on Houston (-10.5)
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