New Orleans (20-29) at Houston (30-18)
When: Sunday, February 2nd, 2020
Where: Toyota Center,
Houston, TX
Time: 2:05 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Houston -6/245
Rookie Zion Williamson has given the New Orleans Pelicans hope for not only this season, but for years to come and we’ve only seen a small sample size. Williamson’s Pelicans go after their fourth win in a row when they visit the Houston Rockets on Super Bowl Sunday – live on ABC. Williamson will get to showcase his talents on a national stage before the big football game and will go up against two former NBA MVPs in James Harden and Russell Westbrook. The Pelicans rode Williamson’s 24 points in 29 minutes to a 139-111 rout of Memphis on Friday, and the 19-year-old is averaging 19.2 points on 62.5 percent shooting through his first five career games. The Rockets are just 4-6 over their last 10 games but received a combined 67 points, 22 rebounds, 15 assists and seven steals from Harden and Westbrook in Friday’s 128-121 win over Dallas to begin a three-game homestand. Houston is two games behind the Utah Jazz for fourth place in the Western Conference entering Saturday’s action and Harden continues to lead the NBA in scoring at 35.6 per game despite recent struggles. He averaged 34 points in two wins over the Pelicans earlier in the season but missed a 127-112 loss at New Orleans on Dec. 29 due to a sprained toe. In that game, Lonzo Ball and All-Star SF Brandon Ingram scored 27 points apiece to help New Orleans snap a three-game losing streak in the series.
While Ball and Ingram have kept the Pelicans afloat waiting on Williamson, center Derrick Favors has been a key contributor also with six double-doubles in January and shot 72.4 percent from the floor during the month. New Orleans moved to within four games of the Grizzlies in the win on Friday and Williamson led all players with a +25 rating despite his limited minutes, proving how valuable the future superstar can be. Ball averaged 13.8 points, 9.1 assists and 7.1 rebounds in January. The Pelicans will have a home date with the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday before playing two road games.
Houston reserve shooting guard Ben McLemore is making the most of his limited playing time by averaging 15 points in 18.5 minutes over his last two games while draining 8-of-15 three-pointers. The Rockets started a historically small lineup on against Dallas on Friday. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Rockets became the first NBA team to play an entire game without a player listed taller than 6-foot-6 since the New York Knicks in a Jan. 31, 1963. Houston might be doing that again, as 6’10” starting center Clint Capela continues to deal with a case of plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Head coach Mike D’Antoni told Capela that he “shouldn’t come back until he’s pain-free,” which might not be until after the All-Star break. Westbrook scored 32 points and finished January with an average of 32.5 points on 52.2 percent shooting to go along with 8.3 rebounds and 8.2 assists. The Rockets will host Charlotte on Tuesday.
The Pelicans are playing better basketball than the Rockets are right now and are a young team that isn’t afraid of the spotlight. Their 10-14 road record isn’t bad for a team that’s nine games under .500 overall and have won their last three away from home outright. I’ll take the points.
Don’t forget to check out our Super Bowl 54 Staff Selections and enjoy the game!
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Sunday. He is 54-44-3 on the season after a 7-1 run!
Pick: Pelicans +5.5
Pelicans are 9-1-1 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog.
Pelicans are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 road games.
Pelicans are 6-1-2 ATS in their last 9 games as a road underdog.
Pelicans are 11-2-1 ATS in their last 14 games following a ATS win.
Pelicans are 14-3-1 ATS in their last 18 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pelicans are 9-2-1 ATS in their last 12 games following a straight up win.
Pelicans are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games playing on 1 days rest.
Pelicans are 16-4-1 ATS in their last 21 games overall.
Pelicans are 16-4-1 ATS in their last 21 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pelicans are 11-3-1 ATS in their last 15 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pelicans are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Pelicans are 15-5-2 ATS in their last 22 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pelicans are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
Pelicans are 6-2-2 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Pelicans are 20-8-1 ATS in their last 29 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Pelicans are 2-6-2 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Pelicans are 1-6-2 ATS in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Rockets are 16-34-1 ATS in their last 51 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
Rockets are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
Rockets are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite.
Rockets are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite.
Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games.
Rockets are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
Rockets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Sunday games.
Over is 8-0 in Pelicans last 8 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Over is 12-1 in Pelicans last 13 games following a ATS win.
Over is 7-1 in Pelicans last 8 games as an underdog.
Over is 6-1 in Pelicans last 7 road games.
Over is 11-2 in Pelicans last 13 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 14-3 in Pelicans last 17 overall.
Over is 14-3 in Pelicans last 17 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 13-3 in Pelicans last 16 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 13-3 in Pelicans last 16 games following a straight up win.
Over is 12-3 in Pelicans last 15 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Pelicans last 5 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Pelicans last 5 games as a road underdog.
Over is 4-1 in Pelicans last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 6-2 in Pelicans last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 7-3 in Pelicans last 10 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 34-16-1 in Pelicans last 51 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 6-1 in Rockets last 7 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Rockets last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Over is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 overall.
Over is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 31-15-1 in the last 47 meetings.
Pelicans are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Houston.
Pelicans are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Houston.
