The New Orleans Pelicans will face the Houston Rockets on Friday, March 13, at 8:00 PM ET at the Toyota Center, Houston, TX. Both teams enter the game with multiple players sidelined, impacting rotations and strategy.
New Orleans will be without two-way players Trey Alexander, Hunter Dickinson, and Josh Oduro, while Bryce McGowens is out with a fractured right small toe.
The Pelicans have won their last two games, defeating the Toronto Raptors 122-111 and the Washington Wizards 138-118 at home.
Houston is missing key contributors, including Steven Adams (left ankle surgery), Jae’Sean Tate (right knee sprain), and Fred VanVleet (right knee ACL repair). Alperen Sengun is listed as questionable with low back pain, leaving the Rockets’ frontline uncertain. Isaiah Crawford and JD Davison, both on two-way contracts, are also out.
The Rockets lost 93-129 to the Denver Nuggets in their last outing but defeated the Raptors 113-99 the night before.
The season series between the two teams is split, with the Pelicans winning 133-128 in overtime in New Orleans on December 18 and the Rockets taking a 119-110 home win on January 18.
Key Pelicans contributors include Trey Murphy III, averaging 22.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, and Zion Williamson, posting 21.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Saddiq Bey adds 17.3 points and 5.8 rebounds, while Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen provide depth with double-digit scoring averages.
For the Rockets, Kevin Durant leads with 25.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, while Sengun contributes 20.2 points and 8.9 rebounds when available. Jabari Smith Jr. averages 15.4 points and 6.8 rebounds, and Amen Thompson adds 17.7 points with 7.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game.
Friday’s game will be crucial for Houston, currently fourth in the Western Conference at 40-25, while the Pelicans are 13th at 22-45.
