Houston Rockets vs New Orleans Pelicans

The Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans are set to face off in a preseason matchup on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. The game will take place at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 PM Central Time. It serves as one of the final preseason tests for both teams as they look to finalize rotations and adjust tactics ahead of the regular season opener. Fans in Alabama will get a rare opportunity to see both teams in action in a neutral setting.

Houston enters the game dealing with several injury setbacks. Fred VanVleet remains out for the season after suffering a torn ACL earlier in the year. Forwards Dorian Finney-Smith and Jae’Sean Tate are both managing ankle soreness and are questionable to play. On the Pelicans’ side, guard Dejounte Murray continues to recover from an Achilles injury and is expected to sit out again. Rookie Derik Queen and forward Trey Murphy III are listed as game-time decisions, both recovering from minor wrist and foot issues respectively. These absences are expected to open opportunities for younger players and new additions on both sides.

Rockets coach Ime Udoka is expected to use this matchup to experiment with new combinations, particularly in the backcourt. With VanVleet unavailable, Udoka could give more playmaking duties to Amen Thompson and rookie Reed Sheppard, while Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun focus on offensive creation. Udoka has emphasized spacing and ball movement throughout training camp, and this game will give him a chance to evaluate defensive switches and rotations under real-game conditions. For New Orleans, coach Willie Green may test lineups built around Zion Williamson and Jordan Poole, balancing interior scoring with perimeter shooting. Green will likely rely heavily on bench minutes to determine which players can step up when starters rest.

Pre-game media discussions have focused on Houston’s depth and how the team will adapt without several of its veteran leaders. There is interest in seeing whether the Rockets’ younger players can carry offensive rhythm and maintain defensive discipline. For the New Orleans Pelicans, the main storyline remains Murray’s recovery and how quickly the team can integrate its offseason additions. Local and national press have framed the matchup as an important rehearsal for both sides—a chance to measure roster depth, chemistry, and overall readiness ahead of the regular season.

In studio previews, analysts have described this game as more of an evaluation exercise than a results-driven contest. They expect both coaches to prioritize testing rotations, emphasizing player performance over final scorelines. Analysts will likely highlight Houston’s backcourt development and the Pelicans’ frontcourt balance, particularly how Zion Williamson manages extended minutes. The consensus view is that this game will provide valuable data for coaching staffs and a glimpse for fans into each team’s evolving identity before the real competition begins.