Rockets Urgently Seeking Win, Visit Pelicans in the Big Easy
Home and Home. Road Trip Finale. The Big Easy Stretch.
Houston aims to get back on track, as they visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night for the last stop on this three game road-trip. The Rockets enter this matchup on a three game losing streak, coming off a 115-102 defeat to Pacers in Indy on Tuesday night. Houston is desperately seeking a win tonight as they aim to close their road trip on a positive note before returning home for a ten day home stretch in the schedule. Earlier this season back in December, the Rockets won the first two matchups with the Pelicans in Houston during the Christmas period.
Despite New Orlean’s 17-45 record, the Pelicans have been playing better ball lately, going 5-3 over their last eight games. In their previous game, New Orleans suffered a 21-point road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. However, they did get a solid performance from Zion Williamson, who scored 37 points. Even though his career has been marred by sufficient injuries, Zion remains one of the most explosive players when he’s healthy and on his “A” game. Besides Williamson, C.J. McCollum is an All-Star caliber guard who can score 30 points on any given night. Moral of the story: the Pelicans still have some talented players, and if the Rockets aren’t focused tonight, Houston’s losing streak may continue.
Tonight’s matchup is the first of a home-and-home against the Pelicans. These divisional foes will square off once again on Saturday night back in Houston, for the final matchup of the season. This game also marks the stretch of several very winnable matchups coming up for the Rockets. After tonight, Houston returns home for six straight games, their longest homestand of the season. Starting with the Pelicans on Saturday night, every opponent has a losing record (besides the Dallas Mavericks, who are on their own path of imploding self-destruction), and the Rockets should be favored in every contest. It’s not impossible, but Houston can potentially begin a seven-game winning streak with a win in the Big Easy tonight.
Fred VanVleet remains out with an ankle injury. The Rockets have gone only 5-8 since FVV initially injured the ankle back on February 1st. Houston has a great chance to get a win against a New Orleans team that is firmly in the Cooper Flagg Sweepstakes, eyeing this summer’s draft lottery. Regardless, if they overlook the Pelicans, the Rockets will be in trouble, as has been a bad trend lately in losses for Houston as they’ve played down to their competition.
Hopefully, the Rockets are ready to play, and show some improvement from the free throw line, as the charity stripe has been very unforgiving to Houston this season. After a woeful 50% showing from the line in their last game, the Rockets are now officially the worst free throws shooting team in the league. Starting tonight, it’s time for Houston to improve on their weaknesses, and continue their push for playoff positioning, by bringing their skid to an end in the Big Easy against a Pelicans team ready for summer vacation.
Smoothie King Center: New Orleans, Louisiana
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (37-25): White
New Orleans Pelicans (17-45): Navy
Tip-Off: 7:00 PM CT
TV: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass