Despite an impressive 11-game winning streak in March, the Houston Rockets have not secured a playoff spot and are using the final weekend of the regular season to gauge their progress. Winning their last two games would allow them to achieve a .500 season record for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
The Rockets’ next challenge is against the Portland Trail Blazers, another team out of playoff contention, on Friday night. With a current record of 39-41 and having won 12 of their last 18 games, the Rockets are still stuck in 11th place in the competitive Western Conference, just behind the teams qualifying for the play-in round.
After a recent loss to Utah, Houston can only aim to finish the season at .500. Their last winning season was during James Harden’s final full season with the team. Following Harden’s departure, the Rockets struggled greatly, amassing a combined record of 59-177 over the next three seasons.
In their recent game against a struggling Jazz team, Houston could not capitalize on a strong performance by Fred VanVleet, who scored 42 points. Despite a high three-point shooting percentage, the team’s overall shooting was inefficient, and the players seemed disengaged, according to coach Ime Udoka.
Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers, with a record of 21-59, are trying to avoid their fourth 60-loss season. They have lost 13 of their last 15 games, including a recent defeat to Golden State where they couldn’t maintain a lead in the fourth quarter. Deandre Ayton has been a standout player for the Blazers, consistently delivering strong performances despite the team’s struggles this season.
