The Houston Rockets crushed the Utah Jazz 143-105 on Wednesday night to win their 50th game of the season and secure a Western Conference NBA Playoff berth. Houston will be making their first postseason appearance since 2020.
Houston has five games remaining, and even though they are against five playoff-caliber opponents (Thunder, Warriors, Lakers, Clippers, and Nuggets), Houston has exceeded many fans' expectations by winning 50 games.
Rockets fans were clowned all over social media for being overly optimistic, as some fans honestly believed Houston could win 50-plus games. Additionally, most sportsbooks predicted Houston to win only 41.5 games.
The Rockets win their 50th game of the season and clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2020! Houston also wins the Southwest Division.
Super impressive for a team that was predicted to win 41.5 games by most sportsbooks/experts.
— The Dream Shake (@DreamShakeSBN) April 3, 2025
Looking back on recent prior postseasons, Houston was defeated by the Golden State Warriors in the 2017-2018 season in a seven-game series in the Conference Finals after defeating both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz in five games. During the 2018-2019 Season, Houston’s postseason run was once again ended by the Warriors in a six-game series loss in the second round after beating the Utah Jazz in six games the previous round. Finally, in the 2019-2020 bubble season, Houston was defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round in a five-game series after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder first in seven games.
Houston’s return to the title chase is a momentous occasion, but they still have work to do. The NBA Playoffs are a different animal, and outside of players like Fred Vanvleet, Dillon Brooks, and Jeff Green, the Rockets are lacking playoff experience. What interests me the most is how will Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green’s games transfer to the playoffs.
I am inclined to believe that Sengun will have an easier time, as during the postseason, the game typically slows down, which will benefit Sengun. Additionally, the games in the playoffs focus more on defense, which should benefit Houston as a whole.
As for Jalen Green, I expect him to struggle more adjusting to the postseason. However, one factor that may benefit him is the increased physicality of the postseason, as referees are less likely to call fouls. This could work in Jalen’s favor because he does not get a fair whistle to begin with.
All in all, it is a great feeling for Houston to be back in the playoffs, and I hope to attend some playoff games this season. Let’s get Toyota Center popping!