It wasn’t way back that the Golden State Warriors held a snug and nearly commanding lead over the Houston Rockets. Stephen Curry and firm have been battling with the Los Angeles Lakers for place on the backside of the playoff standings within the Western Convention, however each groups have been greater than 5 video games up on Houston, who had fallen on exhausting instances after a stable begin to the season.
Rockets Now Simply A Half-Recreation Again Of Play-In Spot
THE ROCKETS HAVE WON 9 STRAIGHT GAMES. pic.twitter.com/imbx6kEkOI
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 26, 2024
However the Rockets are actually formally the most popular group within the NBA after profitable their sport in opposition to the Path Blazers on Monday evening, profitable 9 video games in a row, and have narrowed Golden States’ result in primarily nothing.
The tenth seed is the ultimate Play-In Match spot. Seeds 7 by way of 10 will take part within the end-of-season deciding sequence, and it has lengthy regarded just like the Warriors have been destined to be part of it. The idol sixth seed gave the impression to be too far-off, and Houston was far sufficient again that nobody actually appeared anxious about them.
The Rockets weren’t as lifeless as everybody had assumed, apparently. They haven’t misplaced a sport since March sixth, with their win over the Blazers being the ninth straight. They received the earlier two video games earlier than that loss to the Clippers on the sixth, that means that they’re 11-1 over their final 12.
Golden State Nonetheless Holds Tiebreaker
“I don’t give a rattling concerning the Rockets.”
– Draymond
pic.twitter.com/OahvEqjrAr
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 25, 2024
The victory places Houston over the .500 mark for the primary time since January twelfth, and they’re now inside only a half-game of the Warriors for the tenth and closing postseason spot. However even when Golden State loses to the Miami Warmth on Tuesday, the Rockets will nonetheless have to attend no less than a day.
Fortunately for the Warriors, they maintain the tiebreaker in opposition to the Rockets, and can till the tip of the season. They’ve received the primary two head-to-head matchups this yr, and solely have one remaining, that means that they’ll keep the sting in that facet.
The following sport for the Rockets will likely be a critically robust take a look at, as they are going to tackle the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Wednesday.