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Rockets continue to rise up the West standings

Houston and Golden State are currently in a battle for the final spot in the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament.

The Rockets have the NBA’s best record (11-1) since March 1.

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When the calendar flipped to March, the Houston Rockets were 25-34, on a three-game losing streak, in 12th place in the Western Conference, and seven games back of the No. 9 Warriors and No. 10 Lakers for the final spots in the SoFi Play-In Tournament.

  • Over the next 26 days, the Rockets chipped away at that deficit, stacking wins and taking advantage of every loss from the teams above them
  • The Rockets are a league-best 11-1 in March, averaging 121.6 points per game with a 12.6 point differential – ranked first in the West and second in the league to only Boston in both categories

The Rockets and Warriors are both in action tonight, separated by just one game. Golden State does own the tiebreaker, so the Rockets will have to finish ahead of the Warriors in the standings to bump them out of the Play-In.

Houston at Oklahoma City (8 ET, NBA App): The Rockets bring a nine-game win streak into tonight’s matchup with the Thunder in OKC. Two of the losses in Houston’s three-game losing streak to close February came at the hands of the Thunder.

  • But the March Rockets have been different. Houston is the only team ranked in the top five in both offensive (120.8, 2nd) and defensive rating (109.1, 5th) this month

Golden State at Orlando (7 ET, NBA App): The Warriors are coming off a much-needed win on Tuesday over Miami after losing three of their previous four that added fuel to the Rockets’ rise up the standings.

  • Back-to-Back Warriors: Golden State is 9-5 (.643) on the second night of a back-to-back so far this season – the fifth-best record in the league

Here’s a look at the West standings and playoff picture:

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