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Golden State Warriors

Houston Rockets Return to NBA Playoffs After Years of Rebuilding

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Houston Rockets will face off against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA playoffs, marking their first postseason appearance since 2020. This comeback is the result of years of rebuilding efforts, driven by high expectations and significant investments from owner Tilman Fertitta. The Rockets, seeded second in the Western Conference, will have home-court advantage in the series against the seventh-seeded Warriors.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Rockets finished the regular season with a 52-30 record, ranking them fourth-best in the entire league.
  • The team outperformed every Western Conference team except for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who lost only 14 games.
  • Despite being underdogs in the series, the Rockets have shown resilience and consistency in their performance, particularly in their ability to grab offensive rebounds.
  • The Warriors, led by Stephen Curry, will match up against Amen Thompson, a talented young player in his second season.
  • The series winner will advance to the conference semifinals, facing either the Los Angeles Lakers or Minnesota Timberwolves.

Statistics:

  • The Rockets have the best offensive rebounding percentage in the league, averaging 14.2 per game.
  • The Warriors share the ball, averaging 63.6 passes per game, and have several good 3-point shooters, including Stephen Curry.
  • The Rockets' starting guard, Jalen Green, believes the team can be one of the best in the league when they play with attention to detail and hard work.
  • The Rockets' season was marked by significant investments in new player development facilities and young talent, totaling millions of dollars.
  • Tickets for the series start at $112, with Sunday's tipoff at 8:30pm on TNT and Space City Home Network.

Sources:

  • Axios: "Houston Rockets return to playoffs for first time since 2020" (https://www.axios.com/local/houston)
  • Axios: "Rockets season-opener at Toyota Center: A new era begins" (https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2024/10/22/rockets-season-opener-toyota-center-charlotte)
  • Sports Illustrated: "Warriors vs. Rockets playoff odds, series prediction, and best bet" (https://www.si.com/betting/warriors-vs-rockets-playoff-odds-series-prediction-odds-analysis-and-best-bet)
  • NBC Sports Bay Area: "Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler still bonding after play-in win" (https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/steph-curry-jimmy-butler-play-in-memphis-grizzlies/1843135/)
  • NBA: "2025 NBA Playoffs Series Preview: Rockets vs. Warriors" (https://www.nba.com/news/2025-nba-playoffs-series-preview-rockets-warriors)
  • ESPN: "Amen Thompson player profile" (https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4684740/amen-thompson)
  • Houston Chronicle: "Jalen Green believes Rockets can be one of the best teams in the NBA" (https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/houston-udoka-stone-rebuild-nba-playoffs-20267385.php)
  • Axios: "Rockets outperform every Western Conference team except for Oklahoma City Thunder" (https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2024/12/10/rockets-warriors-nba-cup-quarterfinal)

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