Betting tips from AI for Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans, 19 January 2026.

Houston is the clear pick on paper and in the market: the Rockets are heavy favorites 1.13 while New Orleans sits at 6.30.

Houston's No.5 defense and dominant 13-2 home record are the spine of this call — FOX and DRatings both project decisive Rockets wins and an 80% probability on DRatings. Reed Sheppard is heating up and can exploit a Pelicans team that ranks poorly on the glass and in turnover defense.

New Orleans is weakened with Jose Alvarado out and Herbert Jones questionable, while Houston's depth and defensive identity should mask Tari Eason's questionable status. I back Houston to win outright.

The Houston Rockets are poised for a decisive victory against the New Orleans Pelicans. Bookmakers have the Rockets as heavy favorites at 1.13, and for good reason. Houston boasts a formidable No. 5-ranked defense, known for holding opponents under 111 points, while the Pelicans notoriously leak 122 points nightly. This defensive mismatch is a key factor, with FOX Sports predicting a 124-108 Rockets win and DRatings.com giving them an 80% chance of victory.

Houston's impressive 13-2 home record further solidifies their position. The Pelicans, already floundering at 10-34, face additional challenges with Jose Alvarado confirmed out and Herbert Jones questionable, thinning their wing rotation. Rookie Reed Sheppard's recent surge, exploiting New Orleans' league-worst rebounding, adds another offensive weapon for Houston. Despite a recent tough loss to OKC, the Rockets' overall dominance, especially at home, makes them the undeniable choice.

The Houston Rockets look poised for a convincing home victory against the struggling Pelicans. With a stellar 13-2 home record and facing a New Orleans team that's limping at 10-34, the Rockets' 1.13 favorite status is justified.

Houston's fifth-ranked defense allowing under 111 points per game provides a significant edge against a Pelicans squad surrendering 122 points nightly. The absence of Jose Alvarado and potential missing piece in Herbert Jones further weakens NOLA's already thin rotation.

While the Rockets are coming off a disappointing loss to OKC that exposed rebounding issues, they should bounce back strongly against the league's worst rebounding team. Reed Sheppard's emergence (12.8 PPG with defensive prowess) gives Houston another weapon to exploit the Pelicans' turnover problems.

The 6.30 underdog odds for New Orleans reflect their dire situation. Even with Houston missing Tari Eason, the talent gap and home-court advantage make the Rockets the smart play despite the low return on investment.

The Houston Rockets are set to dominate the New Orleans Pelicans in this NBA matchup at Toyota Center, leveraging their elite defense and home-court prowess. With a stellar 24-15 record and a blistering 13-2 at home, Houston's No. 5-ranked defense clamps down opponents to under 111 points per game, a nightmare for the Pelicans who hemorrhage 122 nightly. FOX Sports experts echo this, forecasting a 124-108 Rockets rout, while DRatings.com pegs Houston's win probability at 80% in a projected 121-112 thriller.

New Orleans limps in at 10-34, plagued by defensive woes and the league's worst rebounding. Key injuries compound their troubles: forward Herbert Jones is questionable with an undisclosed issue, and guard Jose Alvarado is out, leaving their wings exposed. Even with Houston's Tari Eason questionable, rookie Reed Sheppard is surging at 12.8 points and slick steals, ready to feast on NOLA's turnover-prone play.

The 1.13 odds reflect Houston's favoritism, especially after a tough 111-91 loss to OKC that highlighted rebound issues but won't derail their momentum against this floundering foe. Pelicans' recent road splits offer little hope against the Rockets' stingy setup. Bet on Houston to cover and cash in decisively.

The Houston Rockets are heavy favorites with odds of 1.13, and the news fully supports this line. FOX Sports predicts a decisive 124-108 win, citing Houston's stingy defense that holds foes under 111 points, while DRatings.com gives them an 80% chance of victory.

New Orleans is hampered by injuries, with Herbert Jones questionable and Jose Alvarado out, thinning their wings against a Rockets team that is 13-2 at home. The Pelicans leak 122 points nightly and have league-worst rebounding, which Houston rookie Reed Sheppard is poised to exploit.

With the Pelicans floundering at 10-34, betting on the Rockets at 1.13, though low-return, aligns with the data for a profitable outcome given their dominance and opponent's struggles.

The Houston Rockets enter this matchup as overwhelming favorites with odds of 1.13, and for good reason. Their defense, ranked No. 5 in the league, has been a fortress at Toyota Center, where they boast an impressive 13-2 home record. FOX Sports' projection of a 124-108 victory aligns with DRatings.com's more conservative 121-112 estimate, both underscoring Houston's dominance. The Pelicans, meanwhile, hemorrhage points on defense, allowing 122 per game, and their already shaky lineup is further compromised with Jose Alvarado out and Herbert Jones questionable.

New Orleans' struggles are compounded by their abysmal 10-34 record and inability to contain teams defensively or on the boards. The Rockets' rebounding vulnerabilities were exposed in their recent loss to OKC, but against the Pelicans, who rank dead last in rebounding and forcing turnovers, those issues are less likely to surface. Rookie Reed Sheppard’s emergence adds another layer of danger for New Orleans, as his scoring ability and defensive instincts exploit the Pelicans' weaknesses.

While betting on such heavy favorites might seem risky, the sheer mismatch here makes it hard to justify siding with the Pelicans at 6.30. Even if Tari Eason misses time, Houston's depth and home-court advantage should carry them comfortably.