January wasn’t an ideal month for the Rockets, who are 7-9 and will finish with a monthly record below .500 for the first time in the 2023-24 NBA regular season. For context, Houston went 7-7 in December and 8-5 in November. October only had three games, making it not a normal month for comparisons.
But Houston does have some momentum as this month winds down, as evinced by two blowout wins in its last three games.
Now, as a three-game homestand continues, can Jalen Green and the Rockets (22-24) build on that when the New Orleans Pelicans (26-21) visit Toyota Center? By record, the Pelicans are superior to both the Los Angeles Lakers (24-24) and clearly the Charlotte Hornets (10-35). Those are the teams Houston feasted on in recent days.
Green and rookie Cam Whitmore have emerged as standouts on offense, and second-year forward Jabari Smith Jr. is back in the lineup after missing time with a left ankle sprain. That gives head coach Ime Udoka more reliable options than he’s had in some time to complement rising star Alperen Sengun on the interior.
Led by Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, New Orleans enters Wednesday with three straight losses and four in its last five games. The Pelicans are 0-2 against the Rockets this season, having lost in Houston in November and again in New Orleans prior to Christmas. Sengun set a career-high with 37 points in that Dec. 23 meeting.
When and How to Watch
- Date: Wednesday, Jan. 31
- Time: 7 p.m. Central
- TV Channel: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free in Houston markets)
Probable starting lineups
Houston Rockets (22-24)
- Guard: Fred VanVleet
- Guard: Jalen Green
- Forward: Dillon Brooks
- Forward: Jabari Smith Jr.
- Center: Alperen Sengun
New Orleans Pelicans (26-21)
- Guard: C.J. McCollum
- Guard: Herbert Jones
- Forward: Brandon Ingram
- Forward: Zion Williamson
- Center: Jonas Valanciunas
Projected lineups are based on each team’s previous game.
Injury reports
Houston’s injury report lists Victor Oladipo (left patellar tendon repair) and Tari Eason (left lower leg injury management) as out.
The Pelicans are listing Herbert Jones (right adductor soreness) as questionable for Wednesday’s game, while Dereon Seabron is away from the team while on an NBA G League stint.
Jan. 31 uniform choices
- Rockets: White Association Edition
- Pelicans: Blue Icon Edition
Latest interviews
Dillon Brooks 17 points tonight in the #Rockets 135-119 win over the Lakers@HoustonRockets back in action Wednesday vs New Orleans pic.twitter.com/blQOLbEOEN
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) January 30, 2024
Welcome back #Rockets Jabari Smith Jr.
36 MIN / 18 PTS / 9 REB / 4 AST / 3 STL@HoustonRockets beat the Lakers 135-119 pic.twitter.com/P8gHYLtajq— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) January 30, 2024
#Rockets beat the Lakers 135-119
Jalen Green led the way for the @HoustonRockets with 34 PTS / 12 REB / 7 AST pic.twitter.com/eGmJXZphqE
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) January 30, 2024
#Rockets beat the Lakers 135-119
Cam Whitmore provided a huge spark off the bench
18 MIN / 20 PTS / 7-12 FG / 6 REB@SportsVanessa talked the @HoustonRockets rookie after the WIN pic.twitter.com/6aJjYO9WkG— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) January 30, 2024
