NBA Prop Bets: Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans (January 18, 2026)
The New Orleans Pelicans (10-34) face the Houston Rockets (24-15) at Toyota Center. Let's take a look at the NBA Prop Bets for Sunday's matchup. The Rockets opened as 12.5-point favorites but the spread has since moved to 13.5, leaving the Rockets at -850 and Pelicans at +575. The total points line is set at 232.5, with OVER at -112 and UNDER at -108, meaning the implied expected score for the game is 123-110 Houston.
- The Pelicans (-105) have a 21-21-2 ATS record this season, while the Rockets (-115) hold a record of 19-20-0.
- The Pelicans have a 24-20-0 O/U record this season (meaning 24 games have gone over the total points line and 20 have gone under). The Rockets have a 19-20-0 O/U record.
Scoring Insights
- The Pelicans are averaging 115.0 points per game this season (21st in the league). Comparatively, the Rockets are averaging 117.1 (12th).
- Defensively, the Pelicans are giving up a whopping 122.3 points per game this season (28th in the league), while the Rockets are giving up an average of 110.7 points (4th).
Game Style
What do the stats tell us about the style of basketball these teams are playing this season?
Pace
- The Pelicans currently rank 11th for pace this season, recording 100.5 possessions per game. Alternatively, the Rockets sit 28th on that scale with 95.9 possessions per contest.
Field Goal Split
- Looking at field goal splits, just 34.8% of the Pelicans' field goal attempts come from three point range (28th in the league), leaving 65.2% from two. Meanwhile, the Rockets' opponents are taking only 40.5% of their attempts from three (6th) and 59.5% from two.
- Comparatively, Houston takes 33.7% of shots from three (29th), leaving 66.3% from two, while New Orleans' opponents are attempting 45.0% from three (29th) and 55.0% from two.
Beyond the Arc
- In terms of made three-pointers, the Pelicans are shooting an underwhelming 34.3% from deep in 2025/26 (25th in the NBA), compared to the Rockets who are making 37.0% of their attempts (6th).
- On the opposite end, New Orleans is holding opponents to 36.0% of their three-point attempts (17th), while Houston's opponents are hitting 35.6% of their shots (13th).
Ball Protection
- The Pelicans are committing 14.6 turnovers per game this season, ranking 15th in the league, while the Rockets are forcing 13.5 turnovers (26th).
- Flipping that script, New Orleans is forcing 14.7 turnovers (14th), while Houston is committing 15.6 (27th).
Crashing the Boards
- New Orleans is pulling down 43.4 rebounds per game this season (19th in the league), including 12.4 offensive boards (7th). Conversely, Houston's opponents are averaging 38.4 rebounds (1st), 11.1 of which have come on the offensive end (8th).
- Meanwhile, the Rockets are averaging 49.2 rebounds (1st) and 16.4 offensive rebounds (1st), while the Pelicans are allowing 45.1 and 12.1, ranking 22nd and 26th.
First Quarter Winner
New Orleans is +210 to win the first quarter, while Houston is -258. Here are their first quarter records in 2025/26.
| Total | Home | Road | Favorite | Underdog | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 18-25-1 | 11-14-0 | 7-11-1 | 3-1-0 | 15-24-1 | 3-6-1 |
| Houston | 26-12-1 | 8-7-1 | 18-5-0 | 25-10-1 | 1-2-0 | 6-4-0 |
First Half Winner
New Orleans is +330 to win the first half and Houston is -425. Here are their first half records in 2025/26.
| Total | Home | Road | Favorite | Underdog | Last 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 17-26-1 | 11-13-1 | 6-13-0 | 3-1-0 | 14-25-1 | 4-6-0 |
| Houston | 21-17-1 | 8-8-0 | 13-9-1 | 20-15-1 | 1-2-0 | 3-7-0 |
HT/FT
New Orleans is +800 to complete the HT/FT double. Conversely, Houston is -525.
- The Pelicans have completed the HT/FT double in 15.9% of games this season, while the Rockets have completed the HT/FT double in 41.0% of games.
To Go To Overtime
Sunday's matchup is +2200 to go to overtime.
- The Pelicans have played in four games that went to overtime this season, while the Rockets have appeared in five.
Both Teams 110+
- Both teams have scored 110+ points in 25 of New Orleans' 44 games this season. Meanwhile, 15 of Houston's 39 games have seen both squads reach that number.
Last Time They Met
New Orleans recorded a 133-128 overtime victory over Houston at Smoothie King Center when these teams last met on December 18. That result snapped the Rockets' four-game winning streak against the Pelicans. Despite being on the losing side, Alperen Sengun came up big on that day, scoring 28 points and adding 11 rebounds.
