Rockets vs. Pelicans Prediction, Odds, Picks - Jan. 18

Southwest Division rivals square off when the Houston Rockets (24-15) welcome in the New Orleans Pelicans (10-34) at Toyota Center on January 18, 2026. It's the second matchup between the teams this year. The Rockets play the Pelicans in a game that Houston is currently a substantial favorite by 13.5 points. The matchup has a point total of 231.5.

Here is everything you need to know to know about the Rockets-Pelicans game, from the point spread, moneyline, total Over/Under and expert picks, as well as TV channel and streaming information.

Rockets vs. Pelicans Game Information, TV Channel & Odds

• When: Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 7 p.m. ET
• Where: Toyota Center in Houston, Texas
• TV: SCHN, Gulf Coast Sports, and Pelicans+
• Live Boxscore: FOX Sports

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Rockets vs. Pelicans Prediction

ATS Pick: Rockets (- 13.5)
O/U Pick: Over (231.5)
Score Prediction: Rockets 124 - Pelicans 108

Rockets vs. Pelicans Betting Insights

• This year, the Rockets games have finished over 231.5 points scored, their current matchup's point total, 14 (out of 39) times.
• The Pelicans have played in 27 games this year (61.4% of chances) in which the teams combined to score more than 231.5 points.
• The two teams average a combined 0.6 more points per game (232.1) than this game's total of 231.5 points.
• Opponents of these two teams have averaged a combined 233 points per game, 1.5 more than the over/under in this game.
• Houston has been chosen as the favorite in 36 games this year and has walked away with the win 23 times (63.9%) in those games.
• New Orleans has been an underdog in 40 games this season and has come away with the win six times (15%) in those contests.
• New Orleans has a 1-0 record in the last one head-to-head matchups with Houston.
• The Pelicans also have a 1-0 record against the spread when playing the Rockets.

Rockets Recent Trends

• Over their past 10 games, the Rockets have two wins against the spread, and are 5-5 overall.
• Houston's average total over the last 10 games is 9.2 points fewer than the 231.5 over/under listed for this matchup.
• The Rockets have 19 wins against the spread in 39 games this season.
• So far this season, Houston has been installed as favorites by a 13.5-point margin or more four times and are 3-1 ATS in those games.
• Rockets games this year have eclipsed the over/under 19 times in 44 opportunities (43.2%).
• The Rockets score 117.1 points per game, 5.2 fewer points than the 122.3 the Pelicans give up.
• Houston is 8-5 against the spread and 8-5 overall when scoring more than 122.3 points.
• The Rockets make 47.8% of their shots from the field this season, which is 0.8 percentage points lower than the Pelicans have allowed to their opponents (48.6%).
• The Rockets have done a better job covering the spread on the road (12-11-0) than they have in home games (7-9-0).
• Houston has exceeded the over/under in a lower percentage of home games (43.8%) than away games (52.2%).
• In home games, the Rockets have won more consistently as a moneyline favorite, putting up a record of 13-2 (.867). In away games, they are 10-11 (.476) as a moneyline favorite.

Rockets Recent Stats

Rockets Leaders

• Kevin Durant averages 26.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. At the other end, he averages 0.7 steals and 1.0 block.
• Amen Thompson posts 18.5 points, 7.7 boards and 5.1 assists per contest. Defensively, he averages 1.3 steals and 0.5 blocks.
• Alperen Sengun posts 21.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game, shooting 50.8% from the field.
• Jabari Smith Jr. averages 15.0 points, 1.8 assists and 6.9 boards.
• Reed Sheppard averages 12.8 points, 3.2 assists and 2.6 boards.

Rockets Player Props

Pelicans Recent Trends

• The Pelicans have two wins against the spread, and are 2-8 overall, in their last 10 games.
• New Orleans and its opponents have combined to score an average of 241.4 combined points in its last 10 games, 9.9 more than the 231.5 over/under in this matchup.
• The Pelicans are 23-21-0 against the spread this season.
• New Orleans has always covered the spread this year when underdogs by 13.5 points or more.
• Pelicans games this season have hit the over on 24 of 44 set point totals (54.5%).
• The Pelicans put up an average of 115.0 points per game, just 4.3 more points than the 110.7 the Rockets give up to opponents.
• When it scores more than 110.7 points, New Orleans is 20-8 against the spread and 9-19 overall.
• The Pelicans' 46.5% shooting percentage from the field this season is 0.3 percentage points higher than the Rockets have allowed to their opponents (46.2%).
• In 2025-26 against the spread, the Pelicans have a better winning percentage at home (.600, 15-10-0 record) than on the road (.421, 8-11-0).
• New Orleans' games have gone above the over/under 60% of the time at home (15 of 25), and 47.4% of the time away (nine of 19).
• The Pelicans' winning percentage as moneyline favorites, both at home (3-0 record) and away (1-0), is 1.000.

Pelicans Recent Stats

Pelicans Leaders

• Trey Murphy III is putting up 22.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. He's also draining 49.8% of his shots from the floor and 38.8% from 3-point range, with 3.2 triples per game (10th in league).
• The Pelicans are receiving 12.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game from Derik Queen this year.
• Jeremiah Fears is putting up 14.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per contest. He is making 43.6% of his shots from the field and 32.9% from beyond the arc, with 1.1 treys per contest.
• Zion Williamson is averaging 22.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He is sinking 58.7% of his shots from the field (10th in league).
• Saddiq Bey gives the Pelicans 15.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while delivering 0.9 steals and 0.1 blocked shots.

Pelicans Player Props

FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.