The Daily Star Ireland
The New Orleans Hornets face the Houston Rockets on October 15, 2025, in an NBA preseason matchup at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, with tip-off scheduled for 8:00 pm ET (7:00 pm local). It may be a preseason contest, but it carries importance for both teams: the Hornets seek rhythm, chemistry, and lineup clarity at home, while the Rockets look to assess depth and adapt to key injuries before the regular season begins.
New Orleans Hornets Preview
Head coach Willie Green continues to develop a strong, balanced identity for New Orleans. His philosophy revolves around ball movement, spacing, and accountability on both ends. The Hornets are built on defensive grit and structured offense, blending speed in transition with half-court precision. Green’s calm yet demanding leadership has turned the Hornets into a disciplined and competitive group.
Offensively, New Orleans thrives on pick-and-rolls, quick passing sequences, and attacking the rim. The wings and guards are tasked with creating tempo, while bigs stretch the floor or dominate second-chance opportunities. Expect the Hornets to focus on driving and kicking out to open shooters, especially early, to spread Houston’s defense thin.
Defensively, they rely on a switching man-to-man scheme with high-pressure coverage on the perimeter and strong help from bigs in the paint. Rebounding discipline and transition defense are critical parts of Green’s system. Against the Rockets, who are short-handed and rely heavily on Kevin Durant’s isolation game, the Hornets will likely send help early and rotate quickly to prevent mismatches.
In terms of rotation, Green will use this game to polish his core lineup while giving meaningful minutes to role players fighting for bench spots. Starters should see extended action through the first three quarters, with second-unit wings and guards closing out. There are no major injury concerns for New Orleans, allowing Green to run his preferred rotations at near full strength.
The Hornets’ main strengths include defensive organization, interior control, and consistent effort at home. Their weaknesses are occasional cold spells from deep and over-rotation on defensive switches, which can open corner threes.
Houston Rockets Preview
Ime Udoka’s Rockets enter this matchup looking for answers. Udoka, known for his defensive discipline and player accountability, must now find stability with several stars missing. His system values toughness, spacing, and controlled aggression, but implementing that becomes harder with limited roster availability.
Offensively, Houston will rely on Kevin Durant’s shot creation and leadership. Durant remains a deadly midrange scorer who can collapse defenses and open the floor for younger teammates. With Fred VanVleet out for the season (ACL) and Dorian Finney-Smith plus Jae’Sean Tate recovering from ankle issues, the Rockets will depend on isolation-heavy sets and simplified pick-and-roll actions. Expect Houston to play through Durant, testing mismatches and relying on secondary shooters to capitalize.
Defensively, Udoka’s team will mix man coverage with occasional zone looks, attempting to slow down New Orleans’ ball movement. Without their defensive wings, Houston may struggle to contain perimeter drives and could be vulnerable on switches. Udoka will likely rotate young players aggressively, both to manage minutes and evaluate potential backup options.
The expected starting lineup centers around Durant, surrounded by developing guards and hybrid forwards. With the bench stretched thin, energy and hustle will matter more than experience. If the Rockets can limit turnovers and keep this close into the fourth quarter, they’ll consider that a preseason success.
Houston’s biggest strength is Durant’s ability to control a game even with limited help. Their weaknesses are depth, defensive cohesion, and rebounding without their usual starters.
Journey So Far
The Hornets come into this preseason matchup with clear direction and strong chemistry. They’ve used these early games to refine rotations and improve ball-sharing between units. Houston, by contrast, has been forced into experimentation, trying to find the right combinations while coping with injuries. These different trajectories should be evident — New Orleans is building toward stability, while Houston is searching for footing.
Historically, Houston leads the all-time series, but recent meetings have been close. The Hornets tend to perform well at home, and with their current form, they should feel confident entering this matchup.
Recent Form & Stats
New Orleans: Last 5 – W–L–W–W–L | PPG: ~116 | Opp PPG: ~109 | Momentum Score: 7/10 | Strong at home, efficient inside scoring, improving from three.
Houston: Last 5 – L–L–W–L–L | PPG: ~111 | Opp PPG: ~119 | Momentum Score: 4/10 | Struggling on the road with defensive breakdowns and turnovers.
The Hornets’ ball control and depth have been evident in preseason play, while Houston’s inconsistency stems from constant lineup changes. The difference in rhythm could prove decisive.
Key Players to Watch
For New Orleans:
- The lead guard and primary playmaker will be key to controlling tempo and punishing mismatches.
- The stretch big and rim protector can dominate Houston’s weakened interior.
- The two-way wing must balance offense and defensive pressure on Durant.
For Houston:
- Kevin Durant remains the focal point, averaging close to 25 PPG in preseason minutes and dictating every offensive flow.
- Young guards will be under pressure to create and defend against experienced Hornets ball-handlers.
- Bench forwards must rebound and defend smartly to give Udoka options for the regular season.
What to Watch Live
Watch how New Orleans dictates tempo early and whether Houston can keep up without fouling. Pay attention to the defensive schemes: the Hornets may trap Durant off screens, while Houston could use smaller, quicker lineups to push pace. Bench impact will be crucial — whichever team’s second unit sustains intensity will likely take control. Foul trouble among bigs could shift the game’s rhythm, and the fourth-quarter lineups will show which players the coaches trust.
Where to Watch Live
Fans can watch on NBA League Pass and local broadcasts in both markets. Tip-off is 8:00 pm ET (7:00 pm local). Replays and extended highlights will be available through team and league platforms.
Betting Insight
With Houston missing several key players, New Orleans is favored at home by roughly 6–8 points. The Over/Under should hover around 225, reflecting moderate pace and scoring potential. Player props worth considering include Durant over points and Hornets team total over. Given the Hornets’ depth advantage and chemistry, they should pull away late.
Betting verdict: We back New Orleans to win and cover the spread, and we lean slightly toward the over if the total remains near 225.
Prediction
We predict a New Orleans Hornets win, 114–103. The X-factor will be bench depth and rebounding control — two areas where New Orleans holds the clear edge. This NBA preseason preview points to a composed, professional home performance from the Hornets, who should handle a short-handed Rockets team comfortably.
