Rockets Win 10th Straight, Continue Surge in West Playoff Race

The Houston Rockets looked like they might be waiting for Draft Day not too long ago. After their overtime win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the No. 2 team in the Western Conference, the Rockets have managed to become the team to watch.

The Rockets have won 10 games in a row and are two games over .500 (37-35) for the first time since Jan. 6 when they beat the Milwaukee Bucks. Houston has won 12 of its past 13 games to move within one game of the Golden State Warriors who are in the 10th spot in the West standings.

For context, the Rockets had some winnable games during this streak. They beat the San Antonio Spurs twice, Portland Trail Blazers twice, Washington Wizards twice, and the Utah Jazz and three of those teams have a legitimate shot at the No. 1 pick int he 2024 NBA Draft. However, they have some impressive wins too, including victories against the Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings and Cleveland Cavaliers along with their win against OKC tonight.

Can the Rockets continue this red-hot stretch and make a run for the NBA Play-In Tournament? Their schedule doesn't do them any favors. According to Positive Residual, the Rockets have the third-toughest remaining strength of schedule (.544).

Their next five games are against the Jazz (in Utah), at home against the Mavericks, on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves, at home against the Warriors, then the Miami Heat on the second night of a back-to-back.

The game against the Warriors is crucial. If the two teams maintain their current place in the standings, the Rockets would tie the Warriors in the standings. However, the Warriors own the season tiebreaker with two wins against the Rockets this season.