Pelicans vs. Rockets Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Sunday, March 19, 2023

CJ McCollum and the New Orleans Pelicans (33-37) head into their matchup against the Jalen Green-led Houston Rockets (18-52) on March 19, 2023 as a 5.5-point favorite. The over/under for the game is 227.5.

Pelicans vs. Rockets Odds

• Pelicans odds to win: -224
• Rockets odds to win: +186
• Spread: Pelicans (-5.5)
• Total: 227.5

Pelicans vs. Rockets Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• When: Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET
• Where: Toyota Center in Houston, Texas
• TV: BSNO and SportsNet SW

Who Will Win Pelicans vs. Rockets?

Pelicans and Rockets Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

The Pelicans are 8-8 against the spread when favored by 5.5 points or more this season.

The Rockets have a 22-29-3 record against the spread in games they were an underdog by 5.5 points or more this year.

These teams average a combined 224.3 points per game, 3.2 fewer points than the over/under of 227.5 set for this matchup.

New Orleans and Houston have seen its opponents average a combined 4.1 more points per game than the point total of 227.5 set in this matchup.

The Pelicans’ average point total in outings this season is 227.4, 0.1 points below the over/under in this game.

The average over/under in Houston’s games this year is 1.0 more point than the point total of 227.5 in this outing.

New Orleans is 31-38-1 against the spread this season.

The Rockets have a 28-38-4 record against the spread this year.

Pelicans Stats & Insights

The Pelicans score 113.9 points per game (16th in the NBA) and give up 113.5 (15th in the league) for a +28 scoring differential overall.

The 43.5 rebounds per game the Pelicans average rank 14th in the NBA, and are 1.1 more than the 42.4 their opponents record per outing.

New Orleans hits 10.8 three-pointers per game (23rd in the league), 1.5 fewer than its opponents (12.3).

The Pelicans rank 21st in the league by averaging 111.1 points per 100 possessions on offense, and defensively are ninth in the NBA, allowing 110.7 points per 100 possessions.

The Pelicans’ offense has been much better at home (114.3 PPG) compared to away games (113.4 PPG). Likewise, their defense has been much better when playing at home (110.2 PPG allowed) compared to road games (116.8 PPG allowed).

Rockets Stats & Insights

The Rockets’ -541 scoring differential (being outscored by 7.7 points per game) is a result of putting up 110.4 points per game (29th in NBA) while allowing 118.1 per contest (25th in league).

Houston grabs 46.6 rebounds per game (fourth in league) while allowing 41.4 per contest to opponents. It outrebounds opponents by 5.2 boards per game.

The Rockets make 10.7 three-pointers per game (26th in the league) at a 32.8% rate (29th in NBA), compared to the 14.6 per contest their opponents make, shooting 37.3% from beyond the arc.

The Rockets average 107.1 points per 100 possessions on offense (30th in league), and give up 116.3 points per 100 possessions (28th in NBA).

Houston scores 110.3 points per game at home, and 110.4 on the road.

Pelicans Key Players to Watch

The active leader in points and assists for the Pelicans this season is McCollum, who scores 21 points and dishes out six assists per game.

Jonas Valanciunas contributes with 9.7 boards and 1.6 assists per game in addition to his 14.1 PPG scoring average.

McCollum leads active Pelicans in three-point shooting, making an average of 2.8 shots per game from beyond the arc.

Herbert Jones averages 1.7 steals per game, while Valanciunas has 0.6 blocks per contest.

Rockets Key Players to Watch

Green tallies 21.7 points per game. He also contributes 3.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game this season.

Alperen Sengun has per-game averages of 14.7 points, 3.8 assists and 8.8 rebounds this season.

Green knocks down 2.5 threes per game.

The Rockets’ defensive effort gets a boost from Tari Eason (1.1 steals per game) and Jabari Smith Jr. (one block per game).

Pelicans vs. Rockets Prediction

• Pick ATS: Rockets (+ 5.5)
• Pick OU:

  Over (227.5)
  

• Prediction:
  Pelicans 116 – Rockets 111

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