Rockets vs. Pelicans Prediction
Is it safe to lay the points tonight on the Houston Rockets, who are a road favorite versus the New Orleans Pelicans at 7:00 p.m. ET?
Game Snapshot
(505) Houston Rockets at (506) New Orleans Pelicans
Saturday, March 17, 2018
TV: N/A, 7:00 p.m. ET
CURRENT ODDS
According to oddsmakers from online sportsbook YouWager, the Rockets are 7-point road favorites to beat the Pelicans tonight. As for the betting total, the number is sitting at 226 at most online sportsbooks.
Bet This Matchup & Other NBA Games
LINE MOVEMENT
After Houston opened as 6.5-point road favorites the number climbed slightly to 7 at most online sportsbooks. The total, meanwhile, hit the board at 227 but has dropped to 226.
PUBLIC BETTING
As of this writing, 59% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Rockets to cover the point spread this evening. Meanwhile, 55% of the betting tickets are on the under.
KEY INJURY TO WATCH
DeMarcus Cousins (Achillies) is out for the year in New Orleans while Frank Jackson (foot), Alexis Ajinca (knee) and Solomon Hill (hamstring) are also out for the Pelicans. On the other side, Brandan Wright (knee) is out for the Rockets but Ryan Anderson (hip) is probable.
BETTING STRATEGY
The Rockets have won 20 of their last 21 games as they maintain a lead in their race with the Warriors for the top spot in the Western Conference. I like this matchup for the Rockets, as the Pelicans have dropped three of their last four games against teams currently in the playoff race. One of those losses came on Thursday in a 98-93 defeat to the struggling Spurs. New Orleans is winless at the betting window in its last four games, is 1-4 against the number in its last five home games, and has not covered the spread in four attempts coming off one day of rest. The Rockets, meanwhile, are 8-1 against the spread in their last nine road games and are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
OUR PREDICTION: HOUSTON ROCKETS -7