New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets Prediction 3/13/2026 Today’s NBA Picks

The New Orleans Pelicans and Houston Rockets meet Friday in NBA action at the Toyota Center. Here’s a New Orleans Pelicans vs. Houston Rockets prediction. This article will include a New Orleans Pelicans vs. Houston Rockets pick.

New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview

The New Orleans Pelicans beat the Wizards and Raptors and play the Mavs next. The Pelicans have won 7 of their last 10 games.

The New Orleans Pelicans are averaging 115.6 points on 46.5 percent shooting and allowing 120 points on 47.5 percent shooting. Trey Murphy III is averaging 22.1 points and 5.7 rebounds, while Zion Williamson is averaging 21.4 points and 5.9 rebounds. Saddiq Bey is the third double-digit scorer, and Dejounte Murray is dishing 5.4 assists. The New Orleans Pelicans are shooting 34.5 percent from beyond the arc and 78.8 percent from the free-throw line. The New Orleans Pelicans are allowing 34.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 44 rebounds per game.

Houston Rockets Betting Preview

The Houston Rockets beat the Raptors and lost to the Nuggets, and they play the Lakers next. The Rockets have won 7 of their last 12 games.

The Houston Rockets are averaging 114.3 points on 47.5 percent shooting and allowing 110 points on 45.9 percent shooting. Kevin Durant is averaging 25.9 points and 5.5 rebounds, while Alperen Sengun is averaging 20.2 points and 8.9 rebounds. Amen Thompson is the third double-digit scorer, and Jabari Smith Jr. is grabbing 6.8 rebounds. The Houston Rockets are shooting 36.4 percent from beyond the arc and 75.9 percent from the free-throw line. The Houston Rockets are allowing 35.2 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 48.2 rebounds per game.

Why the Houston Rockets will win

• The Rockets have won each of their last 13 games at Toyota Center against Southwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
• The Pelicans have lost each of their last six games at Toyota Center following a home win.
• The Rockets have covered the spread in seven of their last eight home games against Southwest Division opponents following a loss.
• The Pelicans have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six games at Toyota Center following a home win.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans will win

• The Pelicans have won each of their last three games as underdogs against Southwest Division opponents following a win.
• The Pelicans have covered the spread in each of their last seven night games against Southwest Division opponents.
• The Rockets have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six night games against Southwest Division opponents that held a losing record.

Total Points Facts

• Each of the Pelicans’ last four night games against the Rockets following a home win have gone OVER the total points line.
• Each of the Rockets’ last six Friday games has gone UNDER the total points line.

Houston Rockets Player Facts

• Kevin Durant ranks 6th in the league for second-chance points (193) this season.
• Jabari Smith Jr. has played the most minutes in a single game without making a field goal of any player in the league this season—42:16 against the Warriors on March 5.

New Orleans Pelicans Player Facts

• Trey Murphy III ranks 3rd in the Western Conference amongst qualified players for steals per game (1.6) this season.
• Jeremiah Fears is one of only six players in the league to have recorded 7+ steals in a game this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Rockets have suffered the largest comeback loss from an HT lead this season—led by 22 points at the Pelicans on December 18.
• The Rockets rank 1st in the league for Q1 opponent points per game this season (26.9).
• The Pelicans rank 1st for points in the paint per game (57.6) this season.
• The Pelicans rank 29th in the league for opponent offensive rebounds per game this season (12.6).

New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets Injury Report

The Rockets will be without Fred VanVleet, Jae’Sean Tate, and Steven Adams. Alperen Sengun is questionable.

The Pelicans will be without Bryce McGowens.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Houston Rockets Prediction

The Rockets should be favored and should win comfortably but they continue to be hit or miss and aren’t a team I trust with big numbers. We’re also seeing Sengun on the injury report, which isn’t ideal. I’ll keep saying it but the Pelicans are the rare team that isn’t competing for a playoff spot but isn’t tanking. The Pelicans keep playing hard and have been winning since getting Zion and Murray back. The Pelicans are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games and just upset the Raptors. The Pelicans are trying to build winning habits and are 38-29 ATS on the season. I’ll grab the points with the Pels.

Randy Chambers's Pick: New Orleans Pelicans +7.5