While a lot of attention is rightfully on March Madness in college basketball and the Houston Cougars’ attempt to win their first national title in school history, another intriguing basketball story is in the works within the city: The Houston Rockets are scorching hot.
And by scorching hot, we mean on-the-cusp-of-a-playoff-berth hot. Going into tonight’s game at Toyota Center against Portland, the Rockets have won eight straight games.
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Houston (35-35) sits just a game behind Golden State for the 10th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Granted, teams that finish 7-10 in the standings qualify for a 1-game “play-in” game to get into the portion of the playoffs where they play a first-round series against another opponent.
Still, it would technically be a playoff berth and a nice building block for a young team going forward.
The biggest reason for Houston’s success of late has been its biggest enigma the last three years. Finally, it looks like Jalen Green might be emerging into the player the Rockets hoped for when they drafted him No. 2 overall in 2021.
Green is averaging 34.4 points per game over his last five games, which is terrific timing for him given he is eligible for a massive extension of his rookie contract this offseason.
Winning tonight against Portland is a must though, given the schedule for Houston will toughen over the last 11 games of the regular season.
Houston will play seven of its last 11 on the road, with two at a Utah team that is right behind the Rockets in the chase for a playoff spot. The Rockets also have road games against of the two best teams in the Western Conference, Oklahoma City and Minnesota, and what looks to be a mammoth home against against Golden State on April 4.
However, after being dormant for the past three years, the Rockets surging and getting back into the playoff conversation makes this an even more exciting month for basketball fans in the city.