Parlay: Houston Rockets VS New Orleans Pelicans 2025-10-14

Houston Rockets vs. New Orleans Pelicans: A Preseason Power Play
Same-Game Parlay Breakdown for October 14, 2025

Odds Deep Dive
The Houston Rockets are the clear favorites here, with moneyline odds hovering around 1.5 (implied probability: ~66.7%) across DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM. The New Orleans Pelicans, meanwhile, sit at 2.6–2.7 (implied probability: ~37–38%), reflecting their shaky preseason start (0-2) and lack of proven stars. The spread is Rockets -5.5 (most books) to -4.5 (BetOnline.ag), while the total is locked at 230.5 points.

Why the Rockets Are Cooking with Gas
Kevin Durant’s presence has turned the Rockets’ offense into a five-alarm fire. In his lone preseason game, he dropped 20 points, and his gravitational pull alone elevates teammates like Alperen Sengun (who’s looking like a Turkish titan in the paint) and Amen Thompson (a rookie with the handles of a magician and the shot selection of a spreadsheet analyst). The Rockets are now scoring 130 points per game in the preseason—up from a pedestrian 104 ppg in last year’s playoffs. Their offense? A well-oiled jet engine compared to the Pelicans’ go-kart.

Pelicans: All Rookies, No Brakes
New Orleans’ hope rests on 2025 draft darlings Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr., who’ve combined for 42 points in two games. Sounds fun, but it’s also like betting on a pair of hot-dog-eating contest winners to run a marathon. The Pelicans’ veterans—Kevin Love (a once-mighty forward now playing like a guy who forgot his coffee) and Jusuf Nurkic (a solid center but no Durant)—lack the star power to counter Houston’s firepower. Their only win this preseason came against the Spurs, who are currently fielding a team of retired statisticians.

The Humor, Unleashed
The Rockets’ offense is so good, they could score 130 points against a team of stationary targets. Durant’s shooting touch? So smooth, it makes a babbling brook sound like a toddler’s tantrum. The Pelicans’ defense? A sieve that’s been upgraded from “porous” to “swamp-drain-level permeable.” If this game were a cooking show, the Rockets would be Gordon Ramsay and the Pelicans would be that guy who tries to make a soufflé with a toaster.

Same-Game Parlay Pick: Rockets to Win & Cover (-5.5) + Over 230.5
- Rockets (-5.5): With Durant, Sengun, and Thompson in the mix, Houston should cruise past the spread. Their preseason scoring average suggests they’ll hit 130+ points, leaving the Pelicans to scrounge for 100.
- Over 230.5: The Rockets’ offense is a nuclear reactor, and the Pelicans’ young squad will likely go all-in with an aggressive, shot-happy approach. Expect a combined 235+ points.

Final Verdict
This is a no-brainer parlay for anyone with a pulse and a DraftKings account. The Rockets are the preseason kings of the Southwest Division (a title they’ll likely lose to the Mavs by December), and the Pelicans are a work in progress. Bet on Houston to stomp their rivals and light up the scoreboard—unless you enjoy watching Kevin Durant take a 75-foot buzzer-beater to the face.

Place your bets, grab a snack, and enjoy the show. The Rockets are about to make the Pelicans feel like they’re playing basketball in a hurricane. 🏀🔥

Created: Oct. 14, 2025, 8:03 a.m. GMT