New Orleans Pelicans host Houston on Monday night, hope to start streak

Still trying to catch their stride in this young NBA season, the New Orleans Pelicans welcome the Houston Rockets to the Big Easy on Monday.

Starting off the season 2-7 through nine games, the New Orleans Pelicans had eyes on bigger and better to start year one of their roster’s restructure. However, tough scheduling, injuries, and questionable chemistry haven’t yielded the crop Executive VP David Griffin might’ve expected.

However, when the Houston Rockets roll into the Smoothie King Center on Monday night, the Pelicans play host a terrible defense, one who could help a few cold-starting birds find a roll.

Tonight’s game is set for a 7 p.m. CT tip-off from the Smoothie King Center in the heart of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Last time these two faced off, the New Orleans Pelicans started hot and Brandon Ingram posted 35 points, but the Rockets survived, handing the Pels a 123-126 loss with an 0-2 start to the season.

Ingram is averaging 25.9 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 53.7% from the floor with a 46.9% three-point rate to start the year. If he plays well, he could push the Pelicans to a win.

Since the last time these two teams met, the Rockets are up to 6-3 early in the 2019-2020 NBA season and looking like a title contender, of course, boosted by the two-headed monster of Russell Westbrook and James Harden. The two are averaging 58.5 points of the team’s league-leading 120.1 points per game to start their superstar pairing.

What’s more telling about tonight’s action is the poor defense on both ends. The Rockets are giving up 118.7 points per game, ranking 26th in the NBA. The Pelicans, meanwhile, are giving up 112.4 points per night, which is dead-last in the league.

The New Orleans Pelicans will once again play without the help from Lonzo Ball tonight, as the third-year man missed Saturday’s game with a right adductor strain. Aside from Zion Williamson and Darius Miller, the team will then otherwise look to have a full cast.

How to watch Houston Rockets @ New Orleans Pelicans

Tonight’s game will be featured on a broadcast from Fox Spots New Orleans, making it available to all fans within the team’s media market.

If fans are looking for a way to catch the action but do not have a package that allows them to catch New Orleans Pelicans games, there’s a FuboTV plan that’ll help them get access.

How to listen to Houston Rockets @ New Orleans Pelicans

Just as fans will be able to all season long, tonight’s call will be featured on ESPN New Orleans 100.3 FM, where you can listen to all the action.

Want to hear the call but don’t live close enough to the Big Easy? Sign up for a TuneIn premium account to hear the New Orleans Pelicans call from afar.

What to read to get ready for tonight’s game

Over the weekend, Pelican Debrief co-expert Micah Wimmer broke down all the things that went right in the team’s victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

The Houston Chronicle has its own keys to the game has as they preview the Houston Rockets trip to take on the New Orleans Pelicans.

For some reason, Magic Johnson thinks he’d still be in charge if the Pelicans were willing to do the Anthony Davis deal at the deadline.