The Houston Rockets did a great job of staying competitive without the services of star point guard Chris Paul. Now that he’s back in the fold, the team is hoping to make a quick ascension up the Western Conference standings. The Rockets have a good chance at picking up a win next time out when they host the New Orleans Pelicans.
New Orleans is dealing with a vital injury of their own as superstar Anthony Davis is out with a finger injury and it’s unknown if he will be available for this one. The Rockets are in the midst of a crowded West and must take advantage of games like this in which they will be favored in NBA betting lines.
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 Tuesday, January 29th, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on TNT.
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Odds Analysis
The Pelicans have a record of 22-28 on the season and have fallen out of the playoff picture. It would take a big turnaround to make the postseason and that seems unlikely. New Orleans has been poor on the road this season with only seven wins in 27 attempts.
The Rockets have a record of 28-20, finally turning it on after a slow start. Houston has captured 18 wins in 25 home games and will look to stay on that path by taking care of business.
Injury Report
Paul returned to the lineup on Sunday night for the Rockets after missing several weeks with a hamstring injury. He played 25 minutes and finished with 12 points and six assists. Paul is a huge piece of the puzzle and he will be a big boost to the Rockets moving forward.
Davis hasn’t played for the Pelicans since January 18th, when he hurt his finger in a loss to the Blazers. There are reports Davis could be back this week, so keep a close eye on his status. His presence or absence could swing the spread multiple points as Davis is one of the most talented players in the NBA.
He is scoring 29.3 points per game this season with 13.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks. There are rumors Davis might want out of New Orleans so keep up to date with any trade rumors and if they have a positive or negative effect on Davis and the Pelicans heading into this one.
Key Stat
36.2. That’s the number of points per game Harden is averaging this season, which is set to be the most since Michael Jordan’s dominant scoring display in the late 1980s. Harden has needed to pick up the scoring load of late with Paul sidelined, and it will be interesting to see if he shoots less now that Paul is back on the court.
Either way, Harden will be the focus of the Pelicans defense as they will aim to slow him down. Harden has averaged 47.8 points per game over his past five, including a 61-point outburst against the Knicks on Jan. 23. In an age of elite players, Harden is making a case to win another MVP award.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Pelicans might be missing their best player while Houston gets a star back on its end. This one is obvious: the Rockets are going to take care of business and cruise to this win. The spread could be large if Davis doesn’t play, so see where it checks in.
If the spread is in single digits, Houston is the right pick to win this game. The “over” should be considered as there won’t be much defense in this game.
NBA ATS Pick: Houston Rockets 125, New Orleans Pelicans 112
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