Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans March 8th 2025

At 7:00 ET, the Houston Rockets (-338) will host the New Orleans Pelicans (+272) in a Western Southwest division matchup. The Rockets (-8.5) are favored over the Pelicans and will look to improve their record to 39-25.

This game will be played at the Toyota Center in Houston and can be seen on SCHN. The over/under line for this game is currently sitting at 229.5 points.

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Pelicans vs. Rockets Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets
• Where: Houston at Toyota Center
• Date: Saturday, March 8th
• Betting Odds HOU -8.5, NO +272 | HOU -338 O/U 229.5

The Pelicans Can Win If…

The Pelicans fell to 17-46 on the season after a 109-97 home loss to the Rockets on Thursday. New Orleans, who were +3.5 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread. The game’s total score of 206 points was well below the O/U line of 231.5.

New Orleans started strong, leading 34-31 after the 1st quarter. The 2nd quarter was even at 25-25, but the Rockets went on an 11-0 run, extending their lead from 59-54 to 70-54. Houston outscored the Pelicans 33-15 in the 3rd quarter, and although New Orleans won the 4th quarter 23-20, it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback.

The Pelicans struggled offensively in their 97-point performance against the Rockets, shooting just 37.3% from the field. They made only 9 threes, hitting 33.3% from beyond the arc.

Trey Murphy led New Orleans with 26 points, including 15 in the 1st quarter. Zion Williamson added 20 points and 10 rebounds, scoring 8 points in the final period.

Defensively, the Pelicans had a strong 4th quarter, allowing just 20 points, but they struggled in the 1st and 3rd, giving up 31 and 33 points, respectively, in their 109-97 loss to the Rockets. Despite the loss, New Orleans did a good job defending the three, holding Houston to 31% shooting from deep with only 9 made threes.

The Pelicans sent the Rockets to the line 18 times, where they hit 8 free throws. New Orleans also recorded 26 defensive rebounds, giving up 9 offensive boards. They added 9 steals and 7 blocks on the defensive end.

• Through their last three road games, New Orleans has an ATS record of just 0-3. However, their overall record was 1-2 while averaging 117 points per game.
• The last ten games that New Orleans was the underdog, they have an ATS mark of 3-7 while going 2-8 straight up.
• Over their last five games, the Pelicans have an over/under record of 4-1 and are 1-4 vs. the spread.

The Rockets Can Win If…

With a 109-97 road win over the Pelicans on Thursday, the Rockets improved to 38-25 for the season. Houston, favored by 3.5 points, covered the spread. The game’s total of 206 points fell well short of the 231.5-point over/under line.

Houston’s decisive moment came with an 11-0 run, stretching their lead from 59-54 to 70-54. They dominated the 3rd quarter, outscoring New Orleans 33-15, and entered the 4th with an 89-74 lead, allowing them to withstand a late push by the Pelicans.

Alperen Şengün led the Rockets to a win over the Pelicans, scoring 22 points on 78.6% shooting. Amen Thompson added 21 points and 11 rebounds, hitting 76.9% of his shots, while Tari Eason contributed 20 points, making 4 threes at a 50% rate.

Houston shot 56.8% from the field, but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 31% with 9 made threes. Şengün scored 8 points in the 3rd quarter, and Thompson added 6 points in both the 3rd and 4th quarters.

Despite a rough start, giving up 34 points in the 1st quarter, the Rockets tightened up defensively, allowing just 34 points combined in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. They held the Pelicans to 23 points in the 4th, finishing strong to secure the win. Overall, the Rockets gave up 97 points on 37% shooting.

From beyond the arc, the Rockets limited the Pelicans to 9 made threes on 33% shooting. Houston also recorded 10 steals and 6 blocks. On the boards, they gave up 15 offensive rebounds.

• In their last ten games at home, the Rockets have a straight up record of 2-8 while going 4-6 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 110 points per game in these contests.
• As the betting favorite, the Rockets have an ATS mark of just 4-6 in their last ten games. Houston posted a straight up mark of 6-4 in these matchups.
• In their last three games, the Rockets have an over/under record of 0-3 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.

The Lean

Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +8.5, the Pelicans is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 229.5, and our model projects the Pelicans and Rockets to reach a combined total of 238 points. Our bet is on taking the over.

NBA Picks & Predictions from The Best Expert Handicappers

Rockets Look to Build Momentum in Crucial Homestand After Win vs. Pelicans

The Houston Rockets have been a team of two extremes on the road this season. They went on a blistering 10-1 stretch between December and January but recently suffered through an eight-game road losing streak before snapping it with a 109-97 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.

Now, with the Western Conference playoff race tightening, the Rockets return home for a six-game homestand that could define their postseason positioning.

Rockets Snap Road Skid, Shift Focus to Playoff Push

Houston’s eight-game road losing streak had raised concerns, but their strong defensive performance against the Pelicans gave them a much-needed confidence boost. This victory sets them up well for a homestand where five of their six opponents currently have losing records.

Entering the weekend, the Rockets trailed the Memphis Grizzlies by just half a game for the fourth seed and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Crucially, Houston holds the tiebreaker over Memphis, meaning a strong homestand could push them into a more favorable postseason position.

Dillon Brooks Leads Defensive Effort Against Zion Williamson

A major key to Houston’s win was their ability to contain Pelicans star Zion Williamson, who had been averaging 27.5 points on 65.5% shooting over his previous 10 games.

Houston’s defensive game plan, led by Dillon Brooks, forced Williamson into difficult mid-range jumpers and limited him to 5-of-15 shooting from the field.

“Forced him into some non-rim 2s,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “His point of contact, meeting him around the free-throw line, was really good to not let him get downhill and get a head of steam. Dillon took pride in that matchup.”

Beyond slowing down Williamson, the Rockets’ defensive intensity disrupted the Pelicans’ entire offense. New Orleans finished the game shooting just 37.3% from the floor and recorded only 17 assists, struggling to create efficient scoring opportunities.

Pelicans coach Willie Green acknowledged his team’s offensive struggles, saying, “We have to be able to take advantage with the pass. If they’re going to step up like that, you can hit our bigs, hit our guards in the corners. Now the dominoes are falling because we have them scrambling.”

Free-Throw Woes Still a Concern

Despite their strong defensive effort, the Rockets continue to struggle at the free-throw line. After missing a combined 20 free throws in recent losses to the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers, Houston shot just 8-of-18 (44.4%) from the stripe against New Orleans.

Currently, the Rockets rank last in the NBA in free-throw percentage (73.9%), a statistic that could become a major liability in close playoff games.

Coach Ime Udoka addressed the issue:
“That’s the only thing you can do. You can’t emulate a game situation in practice. Get the reps up, and obviously, the worm will turn eventually for us.”

If the Rockets want to capitalize on their home-court advantage, improving their free-throw shooting must be a top priority.

Key Players to Watch During the Homestand

While Dillon Brooks’ defense stole the show against New Orleans, the Rockets will need more all-around contributions to make the most of this homestand. Here are the key players to watch:

🔹 Jalen Green – Houston’s leading scorer needs to continue his offensive aggression, especially in transition.
🔹 Alperen Şengün – The young center has been a dominant interior presence but must stay out of foul trouble.
🔹 Fred VanVleet – His veteran leadership and playmaking will be crucial in controlling the tempo against weaker opponents.

Looking Ahead: A Pivotal Stretch for Houston

This six-game homestand presents a golden opportunity for the Rockets. With five of their six opponents below .500, a 4-2 or 5-1 record would solidify their playoff standing and keep them in contention for the fourth seed in the Western Conference.

If Houston can maintain their defensive intensity and improve their free-throw accuracy, they’ll have a strong chance to cement their postseason position before another tough road stretch.

The journey continues Saturday night against the Pelicans, and with momentum on their side, the Rockets will look to start their homestand on a high note.