It’s Thursday, December 26, and the Houston Rockets (20-9) and New Orleans Pelicans (5-25) are all set to square off from Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The Rockets are currently 9-5 on the road with a point differential of +7, while the Pelicans have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home.

The Rockets (-7.5) are now at No. 2 in the Western Conference standings, while the injury ravaged Pelicans are mired in last place.

The Houston Rockets (20-9) visit the New Orleans Pelicans (5-25) on Thursday. Tip-off from Smoothie King Arena is at 8 p.m. ET. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NBA odds around the Rockets vs. Pelica

The struggling Pelicans witnessed the Rockets’ turnaround up close Thursday, getting dismantled 133-113 in the Toyota Center. It's the most points the Pelicans have allowed this season, surpassing the 132 points in a loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Winners of five of their last six games, the Houston Rockets continue their campaign as one of the league’s biggest surprises on Thursday night against the Pelicans. Despite its youth, the Rockets are 20-9 on the season,

It’s time for the Houston Rockets to get greedy. When the team lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup semifinals, we all looked at the schedule and said, “There’s four games against bad teams then a difficult homestand.