NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (4-14) at HOUSTON ROCKETS (7-11)
Both the Pelicans and the Rockets will be looking to get back on track when the teams meet in Houston on Wednesday.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (4-14) at HOUSTON ROCKETS (7-11)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Houston -3.5, Total: 214
New Orleans has not had the season it was hoping for after bringing in Alvin Gentry as head coach this summer, but the team is finally getting healthy and will be hoping to make a major turnaround beginning on Wednesday. The Pelicans are coming off of a 113-104 loss to the Grizzlies and have now lost three straight games, but things are trending up with the return of some key role players. They will, however, have to play a Houston team that is 5-3 SU against them over the past three seasons and 3-1 SU when playing as a host in this head-to-head series.
The Rockets have had struggles of their own, but have won two of their past three games. One thing that bodes well for New Orleans is the fact that the team is 11-2 ATS after failing to cover the spread in three of its past four games over the past two seasons. The Pelicans also get to face a Rockets team that is 0-9 ATS as a home favorite on the year. Despite Houston’s struggles this season, the team is still an impressive 19-8 ATS in home games after two or more consecutive Overs over the past three seasons.
The Pelicans are finally getting healthy and that will excite PF Anthony Davis (23.5 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.8 BPG), who is averaging 25.6 PPG and 13.4 RPG over the past five contests. New Orleans has relied on him far too often this season and he will surely welcome the help that SF Tyreke Evans will bring to the team. Evans had 20 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in 31 minutes of action in his season debut on Tuesday. His ability to get to the basket and distribute is something that the Pelicans have really missed and he may just be able to help this team turn things around.
SG Eric Gordon (17.2 PPG, 3.1 APG, 2.3 RPG) is going to need to step up his play moving forward. He has scored just 12 points total in the past two games and is in danger of losing minutes with the return of Evans and also PG Norris Cole. Gordon must start to knock down shots more consistently to earn back his coach’s trust, as the Pelicans are not a very good shooting team to begin with.
The Rockets are coming off of a loss on Tuesday night, but the team has still won two of its past three games. SG James Harden (29.8 PPG, 6.6 APG, 6.5 RPG, 1.9 SPG) has been a monster for Houston, averaging 33.8 PPG, 7.8 APG, 7.4 RPG and 2.0 SPG over the past five contests. Harden had 50 points three games ago against the Sixers and is doing everything he can to right the ship for his team. He will be aggressive on Wednesday against a Pelicans team that can play porous defense at times.
But if the Rockets are going to really start making some noise again, SF Trevor Ariza (11.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG) will need to turn things around. Ariza is averaging 9.6 PPG over the past five games and is shooting just 23.8% from the outside in those contests. He will need to start hitting some of his spot-up attempts or it will be very difficult for Harden to ever have any space to drive.
