The New Orleans Pelicans are back at it, trying to end another losing streak when they take on the Houston Rockets tonight. The Pelicans have dropped four in a row and have only one win in their last ten games.
A loss on Thursday will give New Orleans its third losing streak of at least five games. The last time the Pelicans lost five straight three times in the same season was during the 2018-19 season, when they finished 33-49.
The Rockets, on the other hand, are cruising. Sitting third in the Western Conference with a 17-9 record, Houston is 4-1 record against Southwest Division opponents and leads the league in rebounding, grabbing 49.3 boards per game. They also rank second in the NBA defensively, posting a 105.3 rating.
Alperen Şengün has been their best player this season, averaging 18.6 points, along with career highs in rebounds (10.6) and assists (5.2). Jalen Green leads the Rockets in scoring at 19.0 points per game, one of six players averaging double figures in Houston.
For New Orleans, the picture isn’t as bright. The Pelicans have yet to claim a win in the division, currently 0-3 in Southwest matchups. They have been awful offensively, ranking last in the NBA in scoring at just 105.1 points per game while shooting 43.7% from the field. The Pels are also 29th in offense, posting a 106.3 rating.
The Pelicans have been slightly better on defense lately, but still rank 28th among 30 teams at getting stops.
Last season, on their way to 49 wins, the Pelicans faced adversity, but nothing like what they’ve seen over the past two months. This year’s team would have to go 44-11 to match their win total from a season ago.
Both veteran guard CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy have voiced their frustrations towards the unexpectedly rough start to the season. “It’s been difficult. Losing is not great,” McCollum said. “You don’t really feel comfortable doing anything… But it’s our reality. We’ve got to continue to work hard and give ourselves the best chance to dig ourselves out of a tough hole.”
“It’s not fun, especially when you’re accustomed to winning,” Murphy added. “Last year we won almost 50 games. It doesn’t feel good. People are frustrated.”
There have been flashes of improvement, which was to be expected as the roster got healthier. But they’ll need more than flashes to keep up with a Rockets team that’s been steady on both ends.
If the Pelicans want to steal a win tonight, it’s going to take a full four-quarter effort, something they’ve rarely been able to produce. As McCollum noted, staying locked in and finishing games has been one of the team’s biggest hurdles. Against a well-rounded Rockets squad, there’s no margin for error.
Most Recent Starting Lineups
| New Orleans Pelicans | Houston Rockets |
| G – Dejounte Murray | G – Fred VanVleet |
| G – CJ McCollum | G – Jalen Green |
| F – Herb Jones | F – Dillon Brooks |
| F – Trey Murphy | F – Jabari Smith Jr. |
| C – Yves Missi | C – Alperen Sengun |
Injuries
New Orleans Pelicans: Jordan Hawkins (lumbar spine annular fissure) is QUESTIONABLE. Jose Alvarado (left hamstring strain), Brandon Ingram (left ankle sprain), Karlo Matkovic (low back spasm), Daniel Theis (personal reasons), and Zion Williamson (left hamstring strain) are OUT.
Houston Rockets: Steven Adams (left ankle sprain), Tari Eason (injury management), and Alperen Sengun (left knee soreness) are QUESTIONABLE.
Who: New Orleans Pelicans (5–22) vs Houston Rockets (17-9)
Season Series:
- Dec. 19: Pelicans at Rockets
- Dec. 26: Pelicans vs. Rockets
- Mar. 6: Pelicans vs. Rockets
- Mar. 8: Pelicans at Rockets
Series History: The Pelicans are 38-44 all-time against the Houston Rockets and have won the last two meetings against them. New Orleans is 10-5 versus Houston since 2020-21.
Where: Toyota Center
When: Dec. 19, 7:00 PM CST
Where to watch: Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network, Pelicans+
Where to listen: WWL Radio 870 AM
For more content, visit HITP Sports on YouTube or HITP Sports online.
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