Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans: Match Preview and Predictions - 11th November 2019
Match details
Fixture: Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans
Date & Time: Monday, 11th November 2019 (8:00 PM ET)
Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Last game results
Houston Rockets (6-3): 117-94 win over the Chicago Bulls (9th November, Saturday)
New Orleans Pelicans (2-7): 115-110 win over the Charlotte Hornets (9th November, Saturday)
Houston Rockets preview
After routing the Chicago Bulls by 24 points, the Houston Rockets defense is beginning to take sturdy shape. They have now won three straight games, catapulting themselves to a 3rd seed in the West with a solid 6-3 win-loss record. Moreover, the offense is flowing more smoothly as Russell Westbrook continues to waltz his way into Mike D'Antoni's rotation. As a unit, the Rockets are averaging over 120 points per game, shooting 44.9% collectively.
Key Player - James Harden
Scoring at a blazing rate of 37.1 points per game, James Harden is set to conjure yet another offensive masterpiece this year. His 8.7 dimes per game are also the fourth-best in the league at the moment. The 30-year-old is attempting over 23 shots per game, clearly taking the team on his back in times when they need his isolation prowess the most. Moreover, the side-step three-pointer has been successfully incorporated in his arsenal, using which he dropped a team-high 42 points in their most recent win.
Rockets predicted lineup
PJ Tucker, Clint Capela, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Danuel House Jr
New Orleans Pelicans preview
Despite stacking up 26 turnovers, the New Orleans Pelicans somehow managed to get past Charlotte Hornets for a much-needed win, having dropped three straight before that. The absence of Zion Williamson and the underwhelming numbers of Jrue Holiday so far have hurt their chances in ways unimaginable. The squad is clocking over 125 points per game, shooting almost 50% from the floor, yet are not able to close games for countable wins.
Key Player - Brandon Ingram
The point differential between the Pelicans leading scorer and the second-best scorer is a cause of major concern. Brandon Ingram's 26 ppg is followed by veteran Jrue Holiday, who is able to score at a rate of only 14.5 ppg so far this year. Meanwhile, Ingram seems to have found the perfect setting in New Orleans. He is scoring at will and taking his mid-range game to new heights, with a shooting efficiency of 55% from inside the arc this season.
Pelicans predicted lineup
Brandon Ingram, Derek Favors, JJ Redick, Jrue Holiday, Kenrich Williams
Rockets vs Pelicans match prediction
The Pelicans have recorded just their second win of the season recently, and the surging Rockets side is bound to break their momentum. The talent of the young core will come up short against the visitors' strengths and versatility.
Where to Watch Rockets vs Pelicans?
The game will be nationally televised on ESPN. There will be local coverage of the game on AT&T Sportsnet - Southwest and Fox Sports New Orleans at 8:00 PM ET as well. You can live stream the game via NBA League Pass.