Pelicans vs. Rockets Prediction, Odds and Best NBA Prop Bets for Sunday, Jan. 18

Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets are back in the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference, but they’ve won just five of their last 10 games heading into Sunday’s contest with the last-place New Orleans Pelicans.

New Orleans is just 10-34 this season, and it’s won just two of its last 10 games. The Pelicans did upset the Rockets in overtime earlier in the campaign, but they are massive 13.5-point underdogs on the road on Sunday night.

Houston is 7-8 against the spread when favored at home, and it’s actually struggled against lesser competition this season, going 12-9 straight up against teams that are under .500. Does that open the door for the Pels to cover on Sunday?

New Orleans is down Jose Alvarado and Herb Jones in this matchup, and that’s led me to an interesting player prop selection for Durant in this game.

I also have a pick for this Western Conference clash, but first let’s dive into the odds, injuries and more for Sunday’s matchup.

Pelicans vs. Rockets Odds, Spread and Total

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Spread

Pelicans +13.5 (-110)
Rockets -13.5 (-110)

Moneyline

Pelicans: +525
Rockets: -750

Total

231.5 (Over -105/Under -115)

Pelicans vs. Rockets How to Watch

Date: Sunday, Jan. 18
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Venue: Toyota Center
How to Watch (TV): FanDuel Sports Network (Local), Space City Network
Raptors record: 10-34
Lakers record: 24-15

Pelicans vs. Rockets Injury Reports

Pelicans Injury Report

Trey Alexander – out
Hunter Dickinson – out
Herb Jones – out
Jose Alvarado – out
Dejounte Murray – out

Rockets Injury Report

Fred VanVleet – out
Isaiah Crawford – out
Tristen Newton – out
Tari Eason – questionable

Pelicans vs. Rockets Best NBA Prop Bets

Rockets Best NBA Prop Bet

Kevin Durant 25+ Points (-131)

Earlier today, I shared in my NBA Best Bets column – Peter’s Points – why I’m backing Durant to have a big scoring night:

Durant is averaging 26.3 points per game while shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from beyond the arc on 18.0 shots per game.

Over the last 22 games (since Dec. 1), Durant is taking 18.7 shots per game, and he’s seen his scoring average jump to 27.5 per game during that stretch. That includes a 32-point game (on 12-of-15 shooting) in an overtime loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, who he’ll face again on Sunday.

Durant has scored at least 25 points in 22 of his 37 games this season, and he’s done so in six of his nine games this month.

The former league MVP is way too efficient to pass up in this prop against a New Orleans team that ranks 28th in the NBA in defensive rating and opponent points per game this season. On top of that, Herb Jones has been ruled out for the Pelicans, leaving them without their top wing defender to deal with KD.

Pelicans vs. Rockets Prediction and Pick

This is a huge number to lay with Houston, and while I don’t think the Pelicans are any good, they did upset this Rockets team in their last meeting.

Houston has struggled a bit as a favorite, and it ranks just 17th in the NBA in net rating over its last 10 games – despite being fourth in net rating for the season.

Rather than bet on a blowout in this game, I’m going to take the OVER, as the Pelicans are one of the best OVER teams in the NBA and rank 28th in the league in opponent points per game and defensive rating this season. The OVER has hit in 24 of New Orleans’ 44 games.

The Rockets have hit the OVER in 50 percent of their games this season, and these teams did combine for 261 points in an overtime clash in their lone meeting. New Orleans has cleared 231.5 points in four of its last five games, allowing multiple teams to score well over 120 points.

The Rockets have not been great against teams under .500 – as I mentioned earlier – so I wouldn’t be shocked if New Orleans hangs around for a bit in this one.

However, rather than betting on the worst team in the West to cover, I’d much rather take both of these teams to score well into the 110s on Sunday evening.

Pick: OVER 231.5 (-105 at DraftKings)

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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Find Peter Dewey's NBA betting record here (futures included). You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp here.

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