Tilman Fertitta and the Houston Rockets brass took the long route in their post-James Harden rebuild in January 2021. Houston is now being rewarded for its patience.
The Rockets enter Thursday night sitting No. 2 in the Western Conference at 32–14, with the last month featuring road wins over championship contenders in the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Memphis Grizzlies. Ime Udoka's squad is already guaranteed to secure the franchise's first winning season since 2019-20. Fifty wins is well within reach, as is home-court advantage in Round 1 of the Western Conference playoffs in April.