HOUSTON (Interstat) — The surging Houston Rockets will look to continue their push toward the upper tier of the Western Conference when they host the struggling New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Toyota Center. The Rockets (40-24) enter the contest having won seven of their last 10 games and are firmly positioned in the playoff picture. They are coming off a 113-99 home victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, led by Kevin Durant’s 29 points and seven rebounds. The future Hall of Famer has been a model of consistency, averaging 25.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists over his last 10 contests. Conversely, the Pelicans (21-45) sit near the bottom of the conference standings despite showing flashes of competitiveness. They snapped a three-game skid with a 138-118 home win over Washington on March 8, but have lost 10 of their last 15 games overall. Forward Saddiq Bey has been a bright spot, averaging 22.0 points and 5.4 rebounds over that same 10-game stretch, including a 42-point, seven-assist outburst in a win at Utah on Feb. 26. This will be the third meeting between the teams this season. The series is split 1-1, with each team winning on its home floor. The Rockets secured a 119-110 victory in Houston on Jan. 18, while the Pelicans won 133-128 in New Orleans on Dec. 18. Houston’s offense, ranked in the top 10 league-wide, will test a New Orleans defense that has allowed an average of 118.2 points per game this season. The Rockets also boast one of the league’s better home records at 24-9. The Pelicans, just 8-24 on the road, will need another high-efficiency night from Bey and support from starters like Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray to keep pace. Following this game, Houston begins a tough two-game set against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. New Orleans returns home to host the Dallas Mavericks on March 16. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CDT.