NEW ORLEANS PELICANS VS. HOUSTON ROCKETS – 10/26/2019 FREE PICK & NBA BETTING PREDICTION

The Rockets started the season with the highest win total in the Western Conference but they lost their first game of the season, at home, against the Milwaukee Bucks.

They’ll have another chance at home against New Orleans on Saturday.

New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans actually play at home against Dallas on Friday night before going to the Toyota Center to play another Texas team on Saturday.

They gave up 130 points in Toronto on Tuesday, though the game did go to overtime. They’ll be expected to give up a ton in this game, especially given its the second night of a back-to-back.

It could be a decent opportunity to simply fade the Rockets, who aren’t going to hit their stride offensively right away, as was evidenced in their opening loss.

Brandon Ingram led NOLA with 22 points in his first game with the club. Josh Hart recorded a double-double off the bench in his Pelicans debut.

Houston Rockets

Russell Westbrook started his Houston career with 24 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists to lead the team in the first two categories.

James Harden led in the third with 14 assists to his name but he didn’t shoot the ball well. He made all 14 of his free throws but went just 2/13 from the field, including 1/8 from three-point range. He turned it over seven times and finished -3.

Meanwhile, Giannis finished with a 30 point triple-double in Milwaukee’s road win. The Bucks took advantage of Houston’s poor bench, which saw Ben McLemore, Austin Rivers, Thabo Sefolosha, and Tyson Chandler play in four of the five slots.

I’m just not in on Houston. Not only do I have questions about how Harden and Westbrook co-exist, both needing the ball in their hands so often to be effective. I also really doubt this bench. It’s harder to keep getting deeper as the season goes on but that’s what the Rockets must do.

NBA Betting Trends:

NO are 4-13 ATS in their last 17 games overall.
Over is 6-2 in NO last 8 overall.
Under is 7-3 in NO last 10 vs. NBA Southwest.
HOU are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 home games.
Under is 21-9-2 in HOU last 32 overall.
Under is 9-4-2 in HOU last 15 home games.
Head to Head: Under is 39-18-1 in the last 58 meetings.

Free New Orleans Pelicans vs. Houston Rockets NBA Prediction: it’s lower than expected.

There will be stretches of offense in this one but neither team is up to speed and I’m going to take advantage of that overlooked fact in a game that should have a monster total up in the 240s.