Rockets vs. Pelicans Pre-Game 1/31/24
Rockets Seek Second Straight Win, Greet Pelicans
Inching Closer. Mountainous Question. Maintain Perfection.
Houston tries to inch closer up in the standings as they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. The Rockets are coming off an impressive 16-point win over the Lakers on Monday to kick-off this three-game home-stand. After putting up 153 points in a win over the Jazz, the Pelicans have lost three straight games to tough opponents (Thunder, Bucks, and Celtics). New Orleans is currently tied for 8th in the West with the Dallas Mavericks. Houston only trails the Pels by three games in the loss column, and could cut that number to two with a win tonight.
Zion Williamson is questionable for tonight’s matchup, and it’s sounding like he will end up sitting out with a bone contusion. Regardless of his absence, New Orleans still has plenty of weapons to give Houston trouble. Brandon Ingram seems to always play at a superstar-level against the Rockets. The same can be said for guard C.J. McCollum. This duo will be the focal point of Houston’s defense tonight. Jonas Valanciunas could cause trouble in the paint with his massive size and rebounding ability. Alperen Sengun has another challenge on his hands tonight, but The Wizard should be up to the task.
The Rockets are 2-0 so far against the Pelicans this season, with a win coming in Houston and in New Orleans earlier this season. The final match between this teams is on February 22nd in The Big Easy. For now, the Rockets will try and stay perfect against a Pelicans team they’ve performed well against this season. Tari Eason is still out for Houston, but everyone else is seemingly ready to give it a go. Comparable to Monday, the Rockets need to get off to a fast start… and they should be able to be victorious on the second leg of this home-stand.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
New Orleans Pelicans (26-21): Navy
Houston Rockets (22-24): White
Tip-Off: 7:00 PM CT
TV: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass