New Orleans Pelicans @ Houston Rockets Picks and Predictions - March 13th 2026

Written By Nick Crain | Last Updated at March 13, 2026

National Basketball Association

Pelicans

Away

03/13/2026
8:00pm

Rockets

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New Orleans Pelicans (22-45) make the road trip to Houston Rockets (40-25) for this matchup on Saturday, March 14, 2026. Rockets sit favoured by 5.5, and the over/under is 229.5. This one comes down to which team can create the cleaner possessions.

Pace is one of the cleaner angles in this matchup because the teams do not play at the same speed. 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 want a quick sportsbook refresher before betting, our best NBA betting sites guide is a useful place to compare books before you bet.

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.

Friday, March 13, 2026 • 8:00 PM ET • SCHN

Money Line +235

-275

Spread -6.5 -102

7.0 -110

Over/Under -106

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 55.4), and that can set a higher threshold for repetition.

Houston Rockets has played more games in the last 7 days (3 vs 2), and that load can show up late if travel also stacks. 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. Houston Rockets comes in with more last-7 travel miles (1252.59 vs 0), and the overall cost rises when rest gets shorter.

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	2	3
Time zone changes	0	1
Miles travelled last 7 days	0	1252.59
Schedule strength	40.9	55.4
Remaining schedule strength	52.3	49
Previous opponent strength (win %)	55.4	61.2
Next opponent strength (win %)	61.5	32.8

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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 (73.3) and point margin (4.3), 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)	22-45	40-25
Win Percentage	27.3	73.3
Points For	115.6	114.3
Points Against	120	110
Points Margin	-4.4	4.3

Efficiency

The efficiency drivers split: shooting efficiency favors New Orleans Pelicans (108.2 vs 107.8), while field goal efficiency leans to Houston Rockets (53.8 vs 52.7). If New Orleans Pelicans keeps converting points per possession, they can survive even if the field-goal mix looks cleaner on the other side.

Metric	New Orleans Pelicans	Houston Rockets
Field Goal %	0.7	0.7
Three-Point %	0.2	0.2
Shooting Efficiency	108.2	107.8
Field Goal Efficiency	52.7	53.8
Free Throw Rate	0.3	0.3
Three-Point Rate	0.4	0.3
Free Throw %	0.8	0.8

Tempo, Ratings & Turnovers

The drivers split: Houston Rockets leads net rating (3.5 vs -3.9), but New Orleans Pelicans is cleaner on turnovers (13.5 vs 14.7). If New Orleans Pelicans keeps the ball safe, it can keep the game within one run even against a stronger overall rating.

Metric	New Orleans Pelicans	Houston Rockets
Pace	103.1	98.9
Net Rating	-3.9	3.5
Offensive Rating	111.4	113.7
Defensive Rating	115.3	110.2
Turnovers Per Game	13.5	14.7

Rebounding, Ball Movement & Disruption

The drivers split: Houston Rockets leads offensive rebounds (0.4 vs 0.3), while New Orleans Pelicans leads steals (8.9 vs 8.7). If possessions stay clean, second chances can carry; if turnovers spike, steals can flip quarters quickly.

Metric	New Orleans Pelicans	Houston Rockets
Rebounds Per Game	44	48.2
Offensive Rebounds	0.3	0.4
Defensive Rebounds	0.7	0.7
Assists Per Game	25.1	24.7
Assist Rate	59.7	58
Steals Per Game	8.9	8.7
Blocks Per Game	5	5.8

For a quick look, visit current NBA odds to compare updated prices. A clean refresh can show where the market is leaning.

New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets Series History and Last Meeting

The most recent result gives a clear read: Rockets took 109-97 with a 12 margin. The series table below frames the larger head-to-head track record.

Item	Value
Last meeting score	109-97
Last meeting winner	Rockets
Last meeting margin	12

Side	Meetings	Wins	Losses	Average margin	Total points	ATS record	Over/Under record
Away	2	0	2	-5.8	243.4	2-0-0	1-1-0
Home	2	2	0	5.8	243.4	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 Hunter Dickinson (New Orleans Pelicans), and the table below connects that workload to the same production and efficiency markers. Their brief summary: Min 5, Usage% 33.6, 2 PPG, 0 RPG, 0 APG, TS% 50, eFG% 50, +/- -12, and TO/G 2.

New Orleans Pelicans’s leaders are Hunter Dickinson (33.6), Dejounte Murray (28.6), and Zion Williamson (27.1), and Houston Rockets’s leaders are Kevin Durant (27.4), Alperen Sengun (27.3), and Reed Sheppard (22.2), 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	Hunter Dickinson	5	33.6	2	0	0	50	50	-12	2
New Orleans Pelicans	Dejounte Murray	26	28.6	17.6	5.3	5.4	60.8	55.1	5.1	3.6
New Orleans Pelicans	Zion Williamson	30	27.1	21.4	5.9	3.4	63.2	58.7	-1.4	2.1
Houston Rockets	Kevin Durant	36	27.4	25.9	5.5	4.5	63.5	57.9	4.5	3.2
Houston Rockets	Alperen Sengun	33	27.3	20.2	8.9	6.1	55.4	51.9	2.3	3.3
Houston Rockets	Reed Sheppard	26	22.2	13.4	2.8	3.2	55.8	54.2	3.3	1.5

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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.