New Orleans Pelicans vs. Houston Rockets Betting Preview – March 8, 2025

Tonight, the New Orleans Pelicans travel to face the Houston Rockets in a Western Conference showdown with playoff implications. Both teams have been pushing hard to secure a better position in the standings, making this matchup a critical one for their postseason hopes.

Current Form & Key Storylines

The Pelicans have been a force to reckon with lately, powered by the dominant play of Zion Williamson. When healthy, Zion has been nearly unstoppable, using his strength and athleticism to overwhelm defenses in the paint. Alongside Brandon Ingram, who provides a lethal scoring punch, and CJ McCollum’s steady veteran leadership, New Orleans has built a well-balanced attack. However, their defense has been inconsistent, and that could be a factor against a young, explosive Rockets team.

The Rockets, led by Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün, have been one of the more exciting young teams in the league. Their fast-paced offense and athleticism can create problems for opponents, especially at home. Şengün has emerged as a do-it-all big man, thriving as a playmaker in the post. Meanwhile, offseason additions like Fred VanVleet have given Houston much-needed stability at the point guard position. However, their inexperience has led to struggles in closing out tight games, something they must address against a disciplined Pelicans squad.

Betting Odds & Trends

• Spread: Pelicans -3.5
• Total Points Over/Under: 226.5
• Moneyline: Pelicans -160, Rockets +140

New Orleans has been strong against the spread in recent road games, covering in six of their last eight away matchups. Houston, however, has been a tough opponent at home, boasting one of the better home records among lower-seeded Western Conference teams.

Key Matchups

• Zion Williamson vs. Jabari Smith Jr. – Smith will have the unenviable task of trying to slow down Zion. If he gets into foul trouble early, Houston’s defense could struggle.
• Jalen Green vs. Herb Jones – Green’s scoring ability will be tested against the Pelicans’ best perimeter defender in Jones, who thrives at disrupting opponents’ rhythm.
• Alperen Şengün vs. Jonas Valančiūnas – A battle in the paint between two highly skilled big men could be the deciding factor in this game.

Best Bet

New Orleans has the more polished roster, but Houston’s home-court advantage makes this a tough call. Pelicans -3.5 is a reasonable play, but with both teams playing at a fast pace, the best value may be on Over 226.5 total points.

Expect an entertaining, high-scoring affair with Zion and Ingram leading the Pelicans to a hard-fought victory.