Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans Picks and Prediction for Sunday March 29 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 03/29/2026, 01:50 AM ET

The Houston Rockets travel to New Orleans, Louisiana to face the Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on Sunday, March 29, 2026 with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 PM ET and television coverage on Space City Home Network and GCSEN. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Be sure to check out our free NBA picks for more daily NBA predictions and betting insight.

Rockets Bringing Strong Form into New Orleans

Houston enters this matchup with a 44-29 record and a 19-19 mark on the road. Over their last five games, they have recently won over Memphis, recently lost to Minnesota, recently lost to Chicago, recently won over Miami, and recently won over Atlanta. This stretch shows a team that has been competitive and capable of bouncing back after losses.

The Rockets are averaging 114.1 points per game while allowing just 110.2 points per game, indicating a strong defensive presence compared to many teams in this matchup. They are shooting 48 percent from the field and averaging 48.1 rebounds per game, along with 25.0 assists per contest. Their rebounding stands out as a key strength, giving them additional possessions and control of the game.

One of Houston’s biggest advantages is their ability to limit opponents scoring while controlling the boards. Their defensive consistency combined with strong rebounding allows them to dictate tempo and create efficient scoring opportunities. This balance makes them a difficult team to handle, especially against opponents with defensive issues.

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Pelicans Trying to End Losing Skid

New Orleans comes into this game with a 25-50 record and a 16-22 mark at home. In their last five games, they have recently lost to Toronto, recently lost to Detroit, recently lost to New York, recently lost to Cleveland, and recently won over the LA Clippers. This recent stretch highlights a team struggling to find consistency, particularly on the defensive end.

The Pelicans are averaging 115.3 points per game while allowing 119.3 points per game, showing a significant defensive gap. They are shooting 47 percent from the field and averaging 43.9 rebounds per game, along with 25.3 assists per contest. While they can score at a respectable rate, their inability to consistently stop opponents has been a major issue.

New Orleans’ biggest challenge in this matchup is their defensive inefficiency. Allowing nearly 120 points per game puts them at a disadvantage, even when their offense is productive. Their recent losing streak further highlights the difficulty they have had in closing out games.

Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans Pick

Rockets vs Pelicans Pick

Pick: Houston Rockets Moneyline

Houston has the clear edge in this matchup due to their stronger defensive numbers and overall consistency. With the ability to control rebounds and limit scoring, the Rockets are well-positioned to take advantage of a Pelicans team that has struggled defensively and has been on a losing skid.

Rockets vs Pelicans Total Pick

Pick: Over

I am taking the over in this matchup because New Orleans allows a high number of points per game and Houston has the offensive capability to capitalize. With both teams able to score and the Pelicans struggling defensively, I expect this game to feature enough points to go over the total.

Final Score Prediction: Houston Rockets 120, New Orleans Pelicans 114

This prediction was written before the completion of game play on Saturday.