PREVIEW: The Houston Rockets welcome the New Orleans Pelicans to Toyota Center on Sunday, with Houston ranked first in high-frequency attacking at the rim while New Orleans excels at offensive rebounding with a 28.5% rate. The Pelicans' defensive vulnerabilities are evident in their 24th-ranked performance against rim attacks and their 29th-ranked three-point shooting efficiency, contrasting sharply with Houston's elite rebounding dominance at 33.2%. Houston's midrange-heavy offensive approach ranks second league-wide, though the Rockets struggle with turnovers and defensive rebounding, sitting at 29th and 30th respectively in those categories. The Rockets enter as 13.5-point favorites behind their league-leading defensive efforts, allowing just 110.7 points per game while New Orleans ranks 20th offensively at 115 points per contest. New Orleans has collapsed recently, dropping 12 of their last 14 games and struggling to find consistency away from home. Houston shows similar concerning form with four losses in their last six outings, though they maintain stronger fundamentals across the board. The Pelicans have lost all 12 road games against winning teams this season, while Houston has won all 10 home contests versus sub-.500 Southwest Division opponents. Houston's rebounding advantage proves critical in this matchup, as the Rockets' ability to dominate the glass while limiting opponents to single possessions will be especially effective against a Pelicans team that struggles defensively and lacks the athleticism to compete for second chances.