With the merriment of the holidays in the rearview, the struggling New Orleans Pelicans host the red-hot Houston Rockets in a battle of Southwest Division rivals. Houston comes in riding a three-game winning streak and holding the second seed in the Western Conference playoff race, while the Pelicans are trapped in a seven-game losing skid and still searching for their first division win of the season-.
These two teams squared off just a week ago, as the Rockets dominated the Pelicans in Houston, 133-113. The Pelicans must find some answers quickly to avoid another lopsided result.
Who’s In, Who’s Out
New Orleans continues to battle the injury bug. Trey Murphy III is questionable for Thursday after injuring his ankle in Sunday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets, with Javonte Green also listed as questionable. The Pelicans will remain without several key players, including Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Jose Alvarado, and Karlo Matkovic; though Williamson and Alvarado are getting closer to their returns.
The Rockets will be without Dillon Brooks, who scored 27 in the last meeting, and Tari Eason is questionable, but the Rockets have a deep roster that is more than capable of stepping up in their absence. Amen Thompson started in place of Brooks on Monday and contributed solid minutes in a Houston win over the Charlotte Hornets.
What to Watch
- Jordan Hawkins Heating Up: After scoring a season-high 25 points against Denver on Sunday, Hawkins may need to shoulder an even larger role offensively with so many Pelicans sidelined. The second-year guard has shown flashes of brilliance this season, and another strong performance could give New Orleans a much-needed boost.
- Houston’s Defensive Dominance: The Rockets boast one of the NBA’s top defenses, allowing just 106.3 points per game (third in the league) and posting the league’s second-best defensive rating (105.4). Houston ranks in the top five in defensive rebounding and the top ten in blocked shots. They also do a great job of stopping teams in transition, allowing only 11.8 fast break points per game.
- Pelicans’ Struggles in the Division: New Orleans is winless in four games against Southwest Division opponents, and Thursday marks the first of back-to-back divisional matchups with Memphis on deck Friday.
- Houston lately: 7-3 in their last 10 games, averaging 111.0 points and holding opponents to just 108.1 points per contest.
- Pelicans lately: 1-9 in their last 10 games, allowing 120.5 points per game while scoring just 109.6.
- Clutch Play: The Rockets are tied for the NBA’s third-best clutch record (10-6) this season, while the Pelicans continue to falter in late-game situations.
Key to the Game
New Orleans must find a way to limit Houston’s transition opportunities and force the Rockets into half-court sets. The Pelicans will also need big contributions from their role players to have a shot at pulling off the upset
Most Recent Starting Lineups
| Houston Rockets | New Orleans Pelicans |
| G – Fred VanVleet | G – Dejounte Murray |
| G – Jalen Green | G – CJ McCollum |
| F – Amen Thompson | F – Herb Jones |
| F – Jabari Smith Jr. | F – Trey Murphy |
| C – Alperen Sengun | C – Yves Missi |
Injuries
Houston Rockets: Tari Eason (leg) is QUESTIONABLE. Dillon Brooks (ankle) is OUT.
New Orleans Pelicans: Javonte Green (right knee soreness) and Trey Murphy (left ankle sprain) are QUESTIONABLE. Jose Alvarado (left hamstring strain), Brandon Ingram (left ankle sprain), Karlo Matkovic (low back disc protrusion), and Zion Williamson (left hamstring strain) are OUT.
Who: New Orleans Pelicans (5–25) vs Houston Rockets (20-9)
Season Series:
- Dec. 19: Rockets def. Pelicans, 133-113
- Dec. 26: Pelicans vs. Rockets
- Mar. 6: Pelicans vs. Rockets
- Mar. 8: Pelicans @ Rockets
Series History: The Pelicans are 38-45 all-time against the Houston Rockets. New Orleans has lost three of the last five games in the series but won the previous meeting at the Smoothie King Center, 127-105, on Feb. 22.
Where: Smoothie King Center
When: Dec. 26, 7:00 PM CST
Where to watch: Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network, Pelicans+
Where to listen: WWL Radio 870 AM
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