New Orleans Pelicans @ Houston Rockets Picks and Predictions - March 13th 2026
8:00pm
New Orleans Pelicans (26-56) visit for a game at Toyota Center, taking on Houston Rockets (52-30) on Saturday, March 14, 2026. Rockets carry a 5.5-point spread, with 229.5 posted on the total. Rebounding and shot quality are likely to shape the betting result here.
Pace is one of the cleaner angles in this matchup because the teams do not play at the same speed. From here, the preview moves through the best side and total angles, then uses player, injury, and prop context to test whether that read holds, and if you are shopping prices across operators, our where to bet on NBA games guide can help you compare the market.
NBA odds and lines for New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets
If you are scanning the away side quickly, start with a clear form line: last-five ATS: 4-1-0, then layer in fresh detail from average margin: 30. The widget below will update late, so treat NBA odds for New Orleans Pelicans as your main page for a quick check-in.
Houston Rockets sets the tone with a game-shaped profile: last-five ATS: 2-3-0 plus a distinct indicator in last-five over-under: 2-3-0. If you want a home-first reference without extra clicks, NBA odds for Houston Rockets stays clear and current.
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7.0 -110 New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets Situational Analysis (Rest, Travel, Schedule)
With days since last game staying level (2 vs 2), the angle points on miles and schedule compression. Houston Rockets has the tougher last opponent on the sheet (61.2 vs 56.1), and that can set a higher threshold for repetition.
Games in the last 7 days is even (0 vs 0), so density is less likely to be the main driver by itself. On the immediate travel row (880.3 vs 316.7), Houston Rockets is higher, which can add a drag early and again in the third-quarter reset. On last-7 miles (0 vs 0), it is even, and the weekly travel picture stays level.
| Metric | New Orleans Pelicans | Houston Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| Days since last game | 2 | 2 |
| Rest advantage vs opponent | 0 | 0 |
| Travel miles since last game | 316.7 | 880.3 |
| Games in last 7 days | 0 | 0 |
| Time zone changes | 0 | 0 |
| Miles travelled last 7 days | 0 | 0 |
| Schedule strength | 40.9 | 55.4 |
| Remaining schedule strength | — | — |
| Previous opponent strength (win %) | 56.1 | 61.2 |
| Next opponent strength (win %) | 61.5 | 32.8 |
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets Quarter Splits: 1Q to 4Q and Halves
When the game breaks into segments, these splits assist identify the hot spots; you can compare that view with NBA lines and odds. Start with New Orleans Pelicans—a simple readout shows: best quarter is 1Q, and its stronger half is the first half. Then Houston Rockets—a fresh readout shows: peaks in 3Q with the edge in the first half.
| Segment | Away | Home |
|---|---|---|
| 1Q Points | 29.1 | 28.6 |
| 2Q Points | 29 | 28.1 |
| 3Q Points | 28.5 | 29 |
| 4Q Points | 28.3 | 27.4 |
| 1H Points | 58.1 | 56.6 |
| 2H Points | 56.8 | 56.3 |
Season Profile Comparison: New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets
Instead of one big grid, the profile is grouped into four categories with a quick read for each. The important part is whether the two key stats agree—or whether the matchup is a trade between different ways to win.
Record & Scoring
Houston Rockets sits ahead on win rate (73.2) and point margin (5.2), which is usually the clearest indicator of consistent scoring control. If the game stays close, New Orleans Pelicans needs to avoid multi-minute droughts, because that’s where margin edges usually land.
| Metric | New Orleans Pelicans | Houston Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| Record (W-L) | 26-56 | 52-30 |
| Win Percentage | 22 | 73.2 |
| Points For | 115.5 | 115.2 |
| Points Against | 120 | 110 |
| Points Margin | -4.5 | 5.2 |
Efficiency
Houston Rockets leads on shooting efficiency (108.2) and field goal efficiency (54.2), and that combination often reduces volatility. If the game slows, those efficiency edges can become louder because each possession carries more weight.
| Metric | New Orleans Pelicans | Houston Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| Three-Point % | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Shooting Efficiency | 108.1 | 108.2 |
| Field Goal Efficiency | 52.7 | 54.2 |
| Free Throw Rate | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Three-Point Rate | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Free Throw % | 0.8 | 0.8 |
Tempo, Ratings & Turnovers
Houston Rockets owns the net rating edge (4.6), while New Orleans Pelicans has the ball-security edge (13.5), so this category becomes a trade. In a one-game sample, turnovers can matter more than ratings if they turn into easy points going the other way.
| Metric | New Orleans Pelicans | Houston Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| Pace | 103.2 | 99 |
| Net Rating | -4.2 | 4.6 |
| Offensive Rating | 111.4 | 114.8 |
| Defensive Rating | 115.5 | 110.2 |
| Turnovers Per Game | 13.5 | 14.4 |
Rebounding, Ball Movement & Disruption
Offensive rebounds and steals don’t separate the teams much (0.3 vs 0.3, 8.9 vs 8.5), so the best edge is often effort consistency. If one side wins the 50/50 plays for a single quarter, it can flip the possession count enough to matter.
| Metric | New Orleans Pelicans | Houston Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| Rebounds Per Game | 43.9 | 48.1 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| Assists Per Game | 25.1 | 25.4 |
| Assist Rate | 59.6 | 59.1 |
| Steals Per Game | 8.9 | 8.5 |
| Blocks Per Game | 5.2 | 5.8 |
For a quick check, visit NBA odds to compare updated lines. A quick refresh can flag where the market is moving.
New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets Series History and Last Meeting
The last time these teams met, the basic snapshot was Rockets winning 130-128 with a 2 gap. The table below places that outcome in the wider series context.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Last meeting score | 130-128 |
| Last meeting winner | Rockets |
| Last meeting margin | 2 |
| Side | Meetings | Wins | Losses | Average margin | Total points | ATS record | Over/Under record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Away | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3.6 | 239.2 | 2-0-0 | 1-1-0 |
| Home | 4 | 3 | 1 | -3.6 | 239.2 | 0-2-0 | 1-1-0 |
New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets Key Players by Usage%: Top 3 Per Team
The primary usage driver here is Tristen Newton (Houston Rockets), and the table below connects that workload to the same production and efficiency markers. Their brief summary: Min 12, Usage% 36.5, 12 PPG, 3 RPG, 0 APG, TS% 58.1, eFG% 55.6, +/- 2, and TO/G 0.
New Orleans Pelicans’s leaders are Dejounte Murray (26.8), Zion Williamson (25.9), and Jeremiah Fears (25.6), and Houston Rockets’s leaders are Tristen Newton (36.5), Kevin Durant (27.3), and Alperen Sengun (26.8), and this list highlights who is most involved. A more tight top line usually means heavier on-ball responsibility for the primary option, while a even top three can signal more shared creation and easier rotation coverage if one piece is limited.
For a quick check at the award market, open the current MVP board. Start with our MVP odds NBA and sort the names.
| Team | Player | Min | Usage% | PPG | RPG | APG | TS% | eFG% | +/- | TO/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Pelicans | Dejounte Murray | 28 | 26.8 | 16.7 | 5.4 | 6.4 | 58 | 53.6 | 1.4 | 3.4 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | Zion Williamson | 30 | 25.9 | 21 | 5.7 | 3.2 | 64.4 | 60 | -1.3 | 2 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | Jeremiah Fears | 26 | 25.6 | 14.3 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 52.5 | 48.5 | -3.5 | 2.2 |
| Houston Rockets | Tristen Newton | 12 | 36.5 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 58.1 | 55.6 | 2 | 0 |
| Houston Rockets | Kevin Durant | 36 | 27.3 | 26 | 5.5 | 4.8 | 64.1 | 58.8 | 4.4 | 3.2 |
| Houston Rockets | Alperen Sengun | 33 | 26.8 | 20.4 | 8.9 | 6.2 | 56.9 | 53.7 | 2.8 | 3.2 |
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Spend $10 Get 200 in Bonus Picks New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets Prediction and Betting Outlook
- Game script (pace): New Orleans Pelicans tends to press tempo off misses, while Houston Rockets prefers to steady it into longer half-court possessions. The initial pace read frequently follows how the total plays.
- Efficiency edge (side): From a season lens, it tilts toward Houston Rockets when the possession script is tidier and second chances are limited. A few added possessions can turn it. The plainest swing factor for New Orleans Pelicans is ball security, so it must keep the ball.
- Late filters (availability + market): Lineup news and situational context are the last gate, and they can shift how both teams score late in the clock. If money has moved the line, treat it as a cue to verify rather than pushing a lean.
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