Houston Rockets at New Orleans Pelicans NBA Picks & Predictions 12/29/2018

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Smoothie King Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Houston Rockets head to Smoothie King Center to take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, December 29, 2018. The opening line for this game has New Orleans as 1 point favorites.

The Rockets have a record of 19-15. They are 1st in the Southwest Division. They have a point differential of 1.2 as they average 109.8 points per game while giving up 108.6 per contest. The Pelicans have an overall mark of 15-20. They currently are 5th in the Southwest Division. They total 116.4 points per contest and give up 115.6, which is a point differential of 0.8.

Valuable Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 15-17-1 against the spread this season

The Houston Rockets are 17-15-0 against the over/under this year

Important New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 15-20-0 against the spread this season

The New Orleans Pelicans are 18-16-0 against the over/under this year

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

12/21/18 PG Chris Paul Hamstring is out indefinitely
12/11/18 SF James Ennis III Hamstring is out indefinitely
11/15/18 SF Carmelo Anthony Possible Trade is out indefinitely

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

12/11/18 F Nikola Mirotic Ankle is out indefinitely
11/18/18 PG Elfrid Payton Finger is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

James Harden comes into this game averaging 32.7 points per contest while playing 36.7 minutes per night this year. He grabs 5.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 8.3 assists per game. His FG percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is 85%. Eric Gordon averages 15.5 points per contest in 33.4 minutes per game. He averages 2.1 assists per game and 2.5 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 37% for the season while his free throw percentage is 79%.

Player Spotlight

Jrue Holiday scores 20.9 points per contest while playing 36.7 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.4 rebounds per contest and has 8.7 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 76%. Anthony Davis averages 28.1 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 36.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 12.9 rebounds per game and has 4.6 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is 81%.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston averages 109.8 points per contest, which is 18th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 1.2 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 23rd. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 19th in the NBA. They average 42.1 boards per contest and 21.1 assists per game, which ranks them 26th and 27th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 19th with 13.7 per game. The Rockets allow 108.6 points per contest, which is 11th in the NBA. They also surrender a 47% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 24th and 8th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 43.0 rebounds a game which ranks 5th, and they allow 22.1 assists per game which puts them in 4th place in the league. They force 13.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 14th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans is 2nd in the NBA with 116.4 points per contest this season. They are 6th in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 0.77. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 16th in the league. They are 6th in the NBA in rebounding with 47.4 boards per contest and 2nd in assists per game with 27.1. The Pelicans are 9th in turnovers per contest with 14.6. The Pelicans give up 115.6 points per game, which ranks them 27th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 21st and 20th in those defensive statistics. They rank 24th with 25.3 dimes allowed per game and 15th with 44.5 boards surrendered per contest. The Pelicans are 9th in the league in forcing turnovers with 13.2 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Rockets are 2nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 114, and their defensive rating of 112.7 is ranked 24th. In terms of pace they are 28th in the league with 95.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 6th. As a team they are 6th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 50% of their shots, ranking 1st in the league. Houston is 14th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 7th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

New Orleans is 15th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 8th in the league. The Pelicans are 5th in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.2, and their defensive rating of 112.4 is ranked 23rd. In terms of pace they are 3rd in the league with 102.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 9th. As a team they are 8th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 25th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Rockets/Pelicans NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Houston +1

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