Houston faces New Orleans on 6-game road skid

Wed, Feb 21, 2024
NBA News (AP)

Houston Rockets (24-30, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (33-22, sixth in the Western Conference)

New Orleans; Thursday, 8 p.m. EST

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Pelicans -7; over/under is 226.5

BOTTOM LINE: Houston will look to stop its six-game road skid when the Rockets take on New Orleans.

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The Pelicans are 8-6 against the rest of their division. New Orleans is fifth in the Western Conference with 51.8 points per game in the paint led by Zion Williamson averaging 17.4.

The Rockets are 16-14 against Western Conference opponents. Houston is 13-10 in games decided by 10 or more points.

The Pelicans make 48.9% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.8 percentage points higher than the Rockets have allowed to their opponents (46.1%). The Rockets are shooting 46.2% from the field, 0.3% lower than the 46.5% the Pelicans' opponents have shot this season.

The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Pelicans won 110-99 in the last matchup on Feb. 1.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jonas Valanciunas is shooting 57.3% and averaging 13.7 points for the Pelicans. Brandon Ingram is averaging 22.6 points over the last 10 games for New Orleans.

Alperen Sengun is averaging 21.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and five assists for the Rockets. Jalen Green is averaging 18.9 points over the last 10 games for Houston.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pelicans: 7-3, averaging 115.2 points, 43.2 rebounds, 26.8 assists, 9.3 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.3 points per game.

Rockets: 3-7, averaging 112.7 points, 47.9 rebounds, 23.7 assists, 8.3 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.7 points.

INJURIES: Pelicans: Dyson Daniels: out (knee), Cody Zeller: day to day (knee).

Rockets: Reggie Bullock: day to day (back), Tari Eason: out (leg), Steven Adams: out for season (knee), Fred VanVleet: day to day (adductor), Cam Whitmore: day to day (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.