NBA Prop Bets: New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets (March 29, 2026)

The Houston Rockets (44-29) face the New Orleans Pelicans (25-50) at Smoothie King Center. Let's take a look at the NBA Prop Bets for Sunday's matchup. The Rockets opened as 6.5-point favorites but the spread has since moved to 5.5, leaving the Rockets at -225 and Pelicans at +185. The total points line is set at 225.5, with OVER at -108 and UNDER at -112, meaning the implied expected score for the game is 116-110 Houston.

The Pelicans (-105) have a 41-31-3 ATS record this season, while the Rockets (-115) hold a record of 30-43-0.
The Pelicans have a 37-38-0 O/U record this season (meaning 37 games have gone over the total points line and 38 have gone under). The Rockets have a 32-41-0 O/U record.

Scoring Insights

The Pelicans are averaging 115.3 points per game this season (16th in the league). Comparatively, the Rockets are averaging 114.1 (20th).
Defensively, the Pelicans are giving up a whopping 119.3 points per game this season (25th in the league), while the Rockets are giving up an average of 110.2 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 12th for pace this season, recording 100.0 possessions per game. Alternatively, the Rockets sit 29th on that scale with 96.0 possessions per contest.

Field Goal Split

Looking at field goal splits, just 35.9% of the Pelicans' field goal attempts come from three point range (26th in the league), leaving 64.1% from two. Meanwhile, the Rockets' opponents are taking only 40.1% of their attempts from three (6th) and 59.9% from two.
Comparatively, Houston takes 34.6% of shots from three (29th), leaving 65.4% from two, while New Orleans' opponents are attempting 44.3% from three (29th) and 55.7% from two.

Beyond the Arc

In terms of made three-pointers, the Pelicans are shooting an underwhelming 34.7% from deep in 2025/26 (24th in the NBA), compared to the Rockets who are making 36.2% of their attempts (10th).
On the opposite end, New Orleans is holding opponents to 34.9% of their three-point attempts (5th), while Houston's opponents are hitting 35.4% of their shots (10th).

Ball Protection

The Pelicans are committing 14.2 turnovers per game this season, ranking 13th in the league, while the Rockets are forcing 13.5 turnovers (23rd).
Flipping that script, New Orleans is forcing 14.6 turnovers (15th), while Houston is committing 15.8 (27th).

Crashing the Boards

New Orleans is pulling down 43.9 rebounds per game this season (14th in the league), including 12.3 offensive boards (8th). Conversely, Houston's opponents are averaging 39.7 rebounds (2nd), 11.5 of which have come on the offensive end (16th).
Meanwhile, the Rockets are averaging an impressive 48.1 rebounds (1st) and 15.1 offensive rebounds (1st), while the Pelicans are allowing 45.5 and 12.6, ranking 25th and 29th.

First Quarter Winner

Here are their first quarter records in 2025/26.

	Total	Home	Road	Favorite	Underdog
New Orleans	31-42-2	16-22-0	15-20-2	9-6-0	22-36-2	3-7-0
Houston	40-29-4	18-15-2	22-14-2	37-24-3	3-5-1	4-5-1

First Half Winner

Here are their first half records in 2025/26.

	Total	Home	Road	Favorite	Underdog
New Orleans	30-43-2	18-18-2	12-25-0	11-4-0	19-39-2	5-4-1
Houston	40-31-2	20-15-0	20-16-2	37-26-1	3-5-1	6-4-0

HT/FT

New Orleans is +235 to complete the HT/FT double. Conversely, Houston is -130.

The Pelicans have completed the HT/FT double in 22.7% of games this season, while the Rockets have completed the HT/FT double in 41.1% of games.

To Go To Overtime

Sunday's matchup is +1700 to go to overtime.

The Pelicans have played in five games that went to overtime this season, while the Rockets have appeared in eight.

Both Teams 110+

Both teams have scored 110+ points in 41 of New Orleans' 75 games this season. Meanwhile, 24 of Houston's 73 games have seen both squads reach that number.

Last Time They Met

Houston recorded a 107-105 victory over New Orleans at Toyota Center when these teams last met on March 13. Despite being on the losing side, Dejounte Murray erupted for 35 points on that day. The Rockets have now won four straight at Toyota Center against the Pelicans.