New Orleans Pelicans: Betting guide for Houston Rockets rematch

The New Orleans Pelicans take on the Houston Rockets for the second time this year after losing but covering the spread in their first matchup.

The New Orleans Pelicans yet again look to get their season on track as they take on the Houston Rockets, a team that already defeated the Pelicans once this season.

However, the Pelicans were able to give the gamblers that bet on them a win as they covered the spread the first time around against the Rockets. New Orleans only lost by three in the third game of the season, back when things still looked promising.

Since then the Pelicans continued to lose and fell all the way to 1-7. However, after a five-point victory over the Charlotte Hornets, the Pelicans look to right the season and build some steam—a win over the Rockets would provide just that.

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However, this is a matchup nightmare with the defense being one of the worst in the league and the Pelicans’ lack of size as well as their inability to get to the free-throw line. The Rockets score in bunches, have size to snag rebounds and get to the line more than any other team in the league.

The Action Network agrees with the sentiment that this is a matchup nightmare as the Pelicans are six-point underdogs at home. It takes a lot to be six-point underdogs at home.

My prediction (3-5 record): Houston Rockets -6

I have bet on the New Orleans Pelicans in this series far too often and have gotten burned far too often. And of course, the one game that I forgot to write an article about (win over the Hornets) would have hit as the Pelicans were 1.5-point favorites and won by five.

Six points might seem like a lot, especially for a team that only beat the Pelicans by three last time, but the Rockets will be able to get it done. I think this will be a close, high scoring game and the Rockets will pull away late as their experience overcome the Pelicans’ inexperience.

The logic here is that the Rockets, who are undoubtedly a better team than the Pelicans, are not going to have two close wins in a row. One of them has to be a three-plus possession margin, and with the last game not providing that, this game has to provide that.

Or maybe not, maybe the Pelicans will lose by four, or better yet, beat the Rockets on their home court. That would be great to see, even though it would worsen my record even more.