Pelicans @ Rockets

Who will WIN this matchup?

New Orleans Pelicans (20-29)

@ Houston Rockets (30-18)

Current odds:

New Orleans Pelicans: (+190)

Houston Rockets: (-240)

• The line for this game is Rockets by 5.5 points.

• Rookie Zion Williamson has the look of a player that could win multiple MVPs one day, and he’ll get a chance to take on two former winners of the award when his New Orleans Pelicans visit the Houston Rockets on Sunday. Williamson needed 29 minutes to score 24 points in a 139-111 rout of Memphis on Friday, and the 19-year-old is averaging 19.2 points on 62.5 percent shooting through his first five career games. “His activity was really good and he’s still in the learning stages,” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters of his budding star. “He really tries extremely hard not to get in anybody’s way.”

• The Rockets received a combined 67 points, 22 rebounds, 15 assists and seven steals from former MVPs Russell Westbrook and James Harden in Friday’s 128-121 win over Dallas to begin a three-game homestand. Harden continues to lead the NBA in scoring at 35.6 per game, but he’s fallen shy of that mark in seven straight outings. He averaged 34 points in two wins over the Pelicans earlier in the season but missed a 127-112 loss at New Orleans on Dec. 29 due to a sprained toe.

• New Orleans outscored Memphis by 25 points while Williamson was on the court Friday as it won its third straight and improved to 13-6 following a 7-23 start. “With Zion on the court we’re a great basketball team, honestly,” guard Lonzo Ball told the media. “We’re just happy to have him back.” Ball has raised his game of late and averages 13.8 points, 9.1 assists and 7.1 rebounds in January.

• Houston started a small lineup against Dallas that featured nobody taller than 6-6 as center Clint Capela (heel) sat out the contest, and coach Mike D’Antoni liked what he saw. “You’ve got to hunker down and let’s go and get in front of guys,” he told reporters of the mindset with a height disadvantage. “If we do that and we get conscientious about boxing out and getting back, we could make this lineup pretty good.” Westbrook scored 32 points and finished January with an average of 32.5 points on 52.2 percent shooting to go along with 8.3 rebounds and 8.2 assists.

• Ball and All-Star SF Brandon Ingram scored 27 points apiece in the win over the Rockets on Dec. 29.

• Rockets SG Ben McLemore is averaging 15 points in 18.5 minutes over his last two games.

• Pelicans C Derrick Favors had six double-doubles in January and shot 72.4 percent from the floor during the month.