New Orleans Pelicans @ Houston Rockets Picks and Predictions - March 13th 2026
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You get New Orleans Pelicans (26-56) and Houston Rockets (52-30) on Saturday, March 14, 2026, with coverage on SCHN. The number starts with Rockets laying 5.5 and the total at 229.5. This one comes down to which team can create the cleaner possessions.
If the slower team controls possessions, that can cap both rhythm and scoring volume. The rest of the article keeps the focus on what matters to bettors: the side, the total, and the game details that can move either one, and if you are comparing books before locking anything in, our NBA betting apps guide helps you shop for the right book and price.
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.
-275 
7.0 -110 NOP at HOU Rest & Travel Report: Schedule Factors
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 |
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Get 100% on any coins purchase up to $100 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
This breakdown splits the season profile into four sections so the edges are easier to read. When the key stats in a category point the same way, that’s the cleaner lean; when they split, the game usually turns on which lever shows up more often.
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 the two efficiency drivers—shooting efficiency (108.2 vs 108.1) and field goal efficiency (54.2 vs 52.7). If that shows up, Houston Rockets can build separation without needing a big possession advantage.
| 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
The two drivers point opposite ways—Houston Rockets on net rating (4.6), New Orleans Pelicans on ball security (13.5). If Houston Rockets doesn’t force mistakes, the turnover edge can keep this matchup tighter than the rating suggests.
| 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
With the key stats close (0.3 vs 0.3, 8.9 vs 8.5), this category can swing on details like long rebounds and loose passes. In even profiles, the team that finishes possessions cleanly tends to avoid the run that decides the game.
| 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 look, visit NBA odds to compare updated prices. A clean refresh can flag where the market is moving.
New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets Head-to-Head History
The last meeting offers a simple starting line: Rockets secured 130-128, winning by 2. From there, the series rows below add the broader context when it’s available.
| 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 Şengün (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 Şengün | 33 | 26.8 | 20.4 | 8.9 | 6.2 | 56.9 | 53.7 | 2.8 | 3.2 |
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- 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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