It's March 31st. I'm Corey with the story. This is Houston Rockets News Today, driven by AI and built for fans. The Houston Rockets are back at the Toyota Center tonight, facing the New York Knicks, wrapping up a four-game road trip that ended two wins after.
Dropping the first two to the Bulls and Timberwolves. With just eight games left in the regular season, they're clinging to playoff hopes, sitting fifth in the West and needing every win to chase. Home court advantage. Earlier this week, those brutal losses to the Lakers handed LA a three-game lead in the loss column, plus the tiebreaker, meaning the Rockets.
Effectively trailed by four games. Same story against the Nuggets, one game back in losses, but two overall after losing a tiebreaker, too. Fans are feeling the pressure, as the Lakers ride a six-game winning streak, and the Nuggets a three-game run, making it tough for Houston to climb past. Fourth seed.
The impact hits hard with most first-round matchups starting on the road if they say put. One bright spot. They still control the tiebreaker over the Timberwolves with one more matchup left, so passing Minnesota for fourth is possible even, if records tie. Six of their final eight games are at home, including softer spots before road trips to Golden State and Phoenix.
They can't afford slip-ups against winnable foes like the Knicks if they want to force those top teams to stumble. The clock's ticking fast on this. Playoff push.