It wasn’t way back that the Golden State Warriors held a cushty and virtually 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 laborious instances after a strong 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 workforce within the NBA after profitable their sport towards the Path Blazers on Monday night time, profitable 9 video games in a row, and have narrowed Golden States’ result in basically nothing.
The tenth seed is the ultimate Play-In Match spot. Seeds 7 via 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 seemed to be too far-off, and Houston was far sufficient again that nobody actually appeared nervous 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 gained 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 in regards to 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 ultimate 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 towards the Rockets, and can till the tip of the season. They’ve gained the primary two head-to-head matchups this 12 months, and solely have one remaining, that means that they’ll preserve the sting in that facet.
The subsequent sport for the Rockets might be a critically powerful take a look at, as they’ll tackle the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Wednesday.