New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets Picks and Predictions March 6th 2025

Rockets Aim to Rebound Against Pelicans

The Houston Rockets will look to snap their losing streak and regain momentum when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday in the first of a two-game set between the Southwest Division rivals.

Rockets Struggling Since the Break

Houston remains in the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference, but the team has struggled since the All-Star break, going just 3-4 and losing its last three games. Additionally, the Rockets have dropped their last eight road contests, with their last away win coming on Jan. 28 in Atlanta. They have lost 11 of 16 overall since that victory.

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In their latest outing, a 115-102 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday, the Rockets trailed 67-57 at halftime, frustrating head coach Ime Udoka.

“It’s hard to win when you give up 67 in the first half and play uninspired,” Udoka said. “We have to be more physical and not throw the ball all over the gym. At times, it didn’t look like we cared.”

Despite their sluggish start, Houston fought back from a 17-point deficit to briefly take the lead in the fourth quarter before ultimately falling short.

“That one hurts because you do all that work to get back into it and go 13-for-26 from the free-throw line and miss about five point-blank layups,” Udoka added. “I care more about the fight, effort, and competitiveness from the start.”

The Rockets’ comeback was powered by a lineup featuring Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams, both 6-foot-11, which helped Houston dominate the boards with a 58-35 rebounding edge.

Pelicans Gaining Momentum

New Orleans has been trending upward, going 4-3 since the break, with strong rebounding playing a key role in its success. However, that wasn’t the case Tuesday night when the Pelicans were outrebounded 51-35 in a 136-115 road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Despite the setback, the Pelicans secured a 2-2 split on their road trip, marking their first road victories since Jan. 14.

Zion Williamson continues to shine while playing limited minutes as he works his way back from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for 27 games. He has played 30 minutes just once in 18 games since returning but has been dominant, averaging 27.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists on 65.5% shooting over his last 10 contests. Against the Lakers, he erupted for 37 points in 26 minutes, making 17 of 23 shots.

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“He’s playing with speed, playing with force, getting to the lane, kick-outs, rebounding,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said of Williamson.

Williamson credits his recent surge to increased film study, allowing him to better anticipate double-teams and make smarter plays.

His dominance inside has opened up the perimeter for teammates like Jordan Hawkins, who has taken advantage of those opportunities. The second-year guard has scored in double figures in five of his last six games, averaging 13.5 points in that stretch.

“He’s playing more consistently and knows his role,” Green said of Hawkins. “This is part of his growth. We want to see him continue to build momentum and develop good habits.”

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