Houston Rockets at New Orleans Pelicans NBA Picks & Predictions 3/17/2018

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Smoothie King Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Houston Rockets travel to Smoothie King Center to play the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, March 17, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Houston as 6 point favorites.

The Rockets come into this game with an overall record of 54-14. They are 1st in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 8.9 as they are averaging 113.5 points per game while giving up 104.6 per contest. The Pelicans have an overall record of 39-29. They currently are 2nd in the Southwest Division. They are averaging 111.9 points per game and surrendering 111.5, good for a point differential of 0.4.

Valuable Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 36-31-1 against the spread

The Houston Rockets are 29-38-1 against the over/under

Important New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 36-32-0 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 41-27-0 against the over/under

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

03/15/18 F Ryan Anderson Hip is "?" Saturday vs New Orleans

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

10/20/17 C Alexis Ajinca Knee is out indefinitely
10/14/17 F Solomon Hill Hamstring is out indefinitely
01/27/18 F DeMarcus Cousins Achilles is out for season

Player Spotlight

Eric Gordon comes into this contest averaging 18.4 points per game while playing 31.4 minutes per night so far this season for the Rockets. He pulls down 2.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is currently at 82%. Chris Paul averages 18.7 points per game in 31.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 8 assists per contest and 5.4 rebounds per game for Houston. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 92%.

Player Spotlight

Anthony Davis averages 28 points per game while playing 36.6 minutes per contest this year for the Pelicans. He grabs 11.2 rebounds per game and has 2.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 53% and his free throw percentage currently is at 83%. Jrue Holiday averages 19.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 36.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.4 rebounds per contest and 5.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston averages 113.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 8.96 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 13th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 14th in the league. They average 43.5 rebounds per game and 21.7 assists per game, which ranks them 17th and 24th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 18th with 14 per game. The Rockets allow 104.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 12th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 18th and 10th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 41.2 rebounds a game which ranks 2nd and they give up 22.8 assists per contest, which puts them in 11th place in the league. They force 14.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 18th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans is 4th in the league with 111.9 points per game this year. They are 2nd in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 0.35. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 15th in the NBA. They are 14th in the league in rebounding with 44 boards per game, and 2nd in assists per contest with 26.5. The Pelicans are 8th in turnovers per game with 15.1. The Pelicans surrender 111.5 points per contest, which ranks them 29th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 11th and 11th in those defensive statistics. They rank 22nd with 24.2 assists allowed per contest and 27th with 45.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Pelicans are 17th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.4 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Rockets are 1st in the NBA in offensive rating with 115.7, and their defensive rating of 106.5 is ranked 24th. In terms of pace they are 13th in the league with 97.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 2nd. As a team they are 2nd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 50% of their shots, ranking 1st in the league. Houston is 19th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 15th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

New Orleans is 13th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 21st in the NBA. The Pelicans are 11th in the league in defensive rating with 109.2, and their offensive rating of 109.5 is ranked 13th. They are 2nd in the NBA in pace with 100.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 4th. As a unit they are 5th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 18th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take New Orleans +6

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