Houston meets New Orleans tonight in a tight early-season test between two Western Conference teams eyeing staying power. Tip is set for 8:00 PM ET (7:00 PM CT), and the injury picture is already shaping the narrative. The Rockets have key rotation questions, while the Pelicans enter with a shorter list. That contrast could decide the rhythm of this game.

Rockets vs. Pelicans injury report and game time

As of the NBA’s midday update on December 18, Houston lists forward Tari Eason as questionable with a right oblique strain. The versatile wing has also been noted in prior updates for a hip/oblique issue and has missed stretches, so his status is a true game-time story. Veteran guard Fred VanVleet remains out after surgery to repair a torn right ACL earlier in the fall, an absence likely to last the season. Dorian Finney-Smith also stays out with an ankle injury.

For New Orleans, rookie guard Trey Alexander is out. Several reports list only one Pelicans player on the sheet today, which suggests a relatively clean bill elsewhere heading into this matchup.

“If Eason suits up, the Rockets’ defense looks two levels tougher.”

Why Eason’s status matters for Houston

Eason’s value is simple: energy, size, and switchability on the wing. He guards up and down the lineup, chases shooters, and turns stops into quick offense. Against a Pelicans team built on strength and downhill pressure from its forwards and guards, Eason is the kind of piece that can change a run with a single defensive stand.

If he plays, Houston gets another body to contest drives, challenge shots at the rim, and run in transition. If he sits, the Rockets must lean more on younger wings and team schemes to protect the paint and avoid foul trouble.

Houston injuries: VanVleet out, Finney-Smith out, next-man-up

VanVleet’s absence has forced the Rockets to reshape their backcourt. The silver lining: the ball swings more through rising star Alperen Sengun and athletic guard Amen Thompson. Dorian Finney-Smith being out keeps Houston thinner at forward, which makes Eason’s questionable tag even more important.

Houston’s rotation likely continues to rely on its young core and spacing. That means more responsibility for rookie shooter Reed Sheppard and stretch forward Jabari Smith Jr. to keep the floor wide for drives and cuts.

Pelicans injuries: Trey Alexander out, otherwise steady

New Orleans lists Trey Alexander as out. Beyond that, the Pelicans appear relatively stable on the injury front based on today’s report. In a league where nightly absences can swing a game, having a short list is a distinct advantage, especially at home.

“No VanVleet means it’s Amen time — let the kids run.”

Houston’s engine: Sengun, Amen, Jabari and Sheppard

Even with injuries, Houston’s core has been productive. The numbers tell the story:

• Alperen Sengun: 21 GP, 23.5 PTS, 9.4 REB, 7.1 AST, 1.5 STL, 1.0 BLK, 1.0 3PM
• Amen Thompson: 23 GP, 17.3 PTS, 7.3 REB, 5.3 AST, 1.3 STL, 0.5 BLK, 0.4 3PM
• Jabari Smith Jr.: 22 GP, 15.4 PTS, 6.7 REB, 2.0 AST, 0.7 STL, 0.8 BLK, 2.1 3PM
• Reed Sheppard: 23 GP, 12.9 PTS, 3.1 REB, 3.1 AST, 1.6 STL, 0.6 BLK, 2.6 3PM

Sengun remains the hub. His blend of scoring and passing lets Houston play through the post, spread the floor, and cut. Amen brings speed and pressure at the rim. Jabari stretches defenses with spot-up shooting and can guard multiple positions. Sheppard spaces the corners and punishes help with quick-release threes.

Without VanVleet’s steady hand, this group must stay careful with the ball. The Pelicans love to turn mistakes into fast-break points. For Houston, simple is smart: touch the paint, swing the ball, and trust the open shot.

Matchup keys: pace, glass, and paint touches

Pace: Amen can tilt the tempo, but the Rockets don’t want a wild game that invites live-ball turnovers. Expect a measured push — run on clear chances, set on crowds, and use Sengun to organize.

Glass: With Finney-Smith out and Eason uncertain, every rebound is a fight. Team rebounding — guards crashing down to help Sengun and Jabari — will be vital to end Pelicans possessions.

Paint touches: Houston’s offense hums when Sengun catches deep or Amen draws two in the lane. Those paint touches create kick-outs for Sheppard and Jabari. If the Rockets live outside without inside pressure, New Orleans can sit on shooters.

“Sengun vs. Pelicans size is the chess match tonight.”

What Eason’s game-time call could change

If Eason is cleared, Houston gains a defender who can check big wings, contest without fouling, and run the lanes. His presence also allows coach-friendly lineups that mix length with shooting, especially alongside Jabari and Sheppard.

If he sits, look for Houston to tighten rotations and lean into zone looks or quick-help schemes to keep the ball out of the middle. That puts more weight on transition defense. One slow step can become a layup the other way.

Pelicans outlook: short list, home crowd

Playing at home with a short injury list is a real edge. Even without diving into individual matchups, New Orleans should aim to test Houston’s discipline: get downhill, draw contact, and keep the Rockets chasing closeouts. A steady whistle and the boards could tilt the night.

Bottom line and prediction lens

This game feels like a possession battle. Houston’s youth brings energy and surprise, but the injuries — and particularly VanVleet’s absence — mean the details matter even more. If Sengun controls the half court and Amen limits turnovers, the Rockets can hang on the road. If the Pelicans win the glass and speed up Houston’s decisions, New Orleans will have the inside track.

Keep an eye on the news up to tip. The official injury report altered at midday; a late change on Eason could swing the rotation and the feel of the night.

Either way, expect a simple formula to decide it: protect the ball, own the paint, and trust the best shot. For Houston, that means touch the post and spray. For New Orleans, that means get downhill and live on second chances. It’s a clean, clear test in December — and a window into how each team handles pressure before the calendar turns.