The Houston Rockets, 7.5-point favorites, welcome the New Orleans Pelicans to Toyota Center to get their seasons started. The game’s Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 228.5 points and it will air on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets Betting Odds
After a 48-34 regular season campaign, New Orleans went to the playoffs as the six seed in the Western Conference last season. They made it to the Conference Semifinals, where the Golden State Warriors defeated them in five games. Meanwhile, Houston reached the Conference Finals last season as the top seed in the Western Conference, where they fell to the Golden State Warriors in seven games. The Rockets went 65-17 in the regular season.
Houston should be expected to protect the ball well in this contest. In the 2017-18 season, Houston ranked fifth in the NBA at avoiding errors (turnover percentage of 12.9 percent), while New Orleans forced the ninth-fewest turnovers (13.3 percent). Moreover, the Pelicans, who ranked 29th in offensive rebounding percentage (19.8 percent), will face off against the Rockets, who ranked third in defensive rebounding percentage (79.9 percent).
The Pelicans had a respectable 48-34 straight up (SU) record last season, but had a difficult time covering the spread (38-42-2 against the spread (ATS)). Of New Orleans’ 82 games that accepted bets last season, 44 finished under the projected point total.
On the other side, the Rockets owned records of 65-17 SU and 48-44-1 ATS last season. Just over half of Houston’s games finished over the projected point total.
The Rockets took this series last year, winning three out of four games. In the most recent matchup, Houston won 114-91. Houston’s effective field goal percentage was its largest advantage over New Orleans. The Rockets had a rate of 0.581 while the Pelicans posted a mark of 0.427.
New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets Free Pick
Free NBA Tip: SU Winner – Rockets, ATS Winner – Pelicans, O/U – Under
Betting Notes (2017-Present):
- The Rockets rank 11th in points off turnovers per game (16.9) while the Pelicans rank 24th in points off turnovers allowed per game (17.5).
- New Orleans ranks first in points in the paint per game (52.6) while Houston ranks 28th (41.1).
- The Rockets rank sixth in second chance points allowed per game (11.6) while the Pelicans rank 28th (13.7).
- Houston ranks sixth in rebounds allowed per game (42.3) while New Orleans ranks 25th (45.6).
- New Orleans ranks third in fast break points per game (15.5) while Houston ranks 17th (11.2).
- The Rockets average 41.9 three pointers per game, which ranks first in the league. The Pelicans rank 26th in three pointers allowed per game (30.7).
- The Rockets rank fifth in steals per game (8.5) while the Pelicans rank 22nd in steals allowed per game (8.3).
- New Orleans ranks third in blocks per game (5.8) while Houston ranks 13th (4.9).
- New Orleans ranks third in assists per game (26.8) while Houston ranks 28th (21.1).
- Houston is 38-3 when they hold opponents under 100 points, while New Orleans is 13-2.
- When reaching the century mark, the Pelicans are 49-25 and the Rockets are 71-15.
