The Houston Rockets were a dominant team last season and came up just short of knocking off the powerhouse Warriors in the playoffs. James Harden and Chris Paul are back to lead the way for a Houston team intent on challenging for the NBA title once again. Home court advantage in the playoffs is important and the Rockets will aim to get off on the right foot when they host the New Orleans Pelicans in the first game of the season for both sides.
The Rockets are generally observed as Golden State’s biggest competition in the Western Conference but the Pelicans would love to take the next step and be in that mix. New Orleans has one of the most talented players in the league in Anthony Davis and he will aim to keep his team in this one, but the Pelicans are certainly going to be the road underdogs to open up the season in NBA gambling.
This NBA basketball game between the New Orleans Pelicans and Houston Rockets will be held at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas at 8 p.m ET on Wednesday, October 17th, 2018. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
We'll have NBA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2018 NBA season.
Odds Analysis
The Rockets are currently listed as 7.5-point favorite to win the season opener over the Pelicans. Houston has the talent advantage and the home court, so it’s not a surprise that the oddsmakers have pegged them as more than likely to win this one by a few possessions. The scoring total is listed at 228.5 points as this one figures to be a run-and-gun affair.
Check in on the new live betting platform for this game. In addition to the standard pregame bets, this feature allows gamblers to keep on wagering as the action is live. It’s a great way to make money after spotting trends in the contest.
Injury Report
Houston forward Nene Hilario has been limited this week with a calf injury. Keep an eye on his availability and if he will have any restrictions. Whether Nene is healthy or not isn’t a huge deal as he is not an integral part to the team. The Rockets acquired Marquese Chriss from the Suns this offseason and he is currently dealing with an ankle injury. Chriss is an athletic player and could work well with stars like Harden and Paul who give the others around them space. He seems likely to be ready for this contest.
The Pelicans hope to have the services of Jahlil Okafor, who is recovering from an ankle sprain he suffered about two weeks ago. Okafor is a former high draft pick who is trying to find a spot with the Pelicans and wants to get off to a nice start. Keep an eye on his status as tipoff approaches because New Orleans would certainly love to have him available.
Player To Watch
Davis -- The Pelicans’ big man is one of the favorites to win the MVP award this season, with better odds than even Harden, the league’s reigning MVP. New Orleans doesn’t have the same supporting cast as Houston so Davis will really need to dominate in this one. He doesn’t have the easiest matchup as the Rockets’ Clint Capela is an upper tier defender, but Davis will certainly get his points.
The key in this one will be efficiency for Davis. If he can consistently get buckets down low in the halfcourt, it should be enough to keep the Pelicans close. If he struggles, Houston figures to run away with the victory. Davis is bound to have a huge year and would love to start it off in style against the Rockets.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Pelicans found a groove down the stretch last year and have faith that will carry over to 2018-19. However, the Rockets are supremely motivated to play well, knowing this will be one of their best chances to win a title. Houston is ready for a big year and it will start off with a bang. Take the Rockets to both win this game and cover the spread in NBA basketball live betting. The “over” is the choice on the scoring total as this should be an entertaining, fast-paced affair as both teams have fresh legs.
NBA ATS Picks: Houston Rockets 129, New Orleans Pelicans 119
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