By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Houston Rockets just ended their NBA playoff drought after bagging a sure slot in the postseason following a 143-105 demolition of the Utah Jazz on April 3, 2025.
Houston’s lopsided dub over the Jazz hiked their win total to 50 victories this season, their first time since the James Harden-led crew made noise last 2018.
Not only did the Rockets reach the 50-win mark this season but they also officially entered the NBA playoffs for the first time in five years.
Houston’s last playoff trip was during the 2019-2020 NBA bubble season, where they exited in the Western Conference semifinals against the eventual champions, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Since that run, the Rockets continued to struggle after the end of the Harden era. However, under the tutelage of head coach Ime Udoka and the current thriving roster, Houston is already guaranteed a ticket to the playoffs regardless of the outcome of their final five regular season games.
Houston is sitting at the no. 2 spot in the Western Conference with a 50-27 record and will have the chance to gain home-court advantage if they stay within the Top 3.
Oklahoma is already bound to lock in the no. 1 spot in the west with 63 wins and 12 losses. The only concern for the Rockets is if the Lakers and the Nuggets sweep all of their remaining games that can help them steal the no. 2 seeding from Houston.
Entering the matchup against the Jazz, Houston only had one thing in mind, and that was to win.
Aside from raking their 50th win of the season, the Rockets are also looking to build the momentum before the playoffs kick off this month.
A collective effort from the starters to the role players made the victory possible as seven players entered the double-digit scoring mark in the wire-to-wire win.
Jalen Green top-scored for the Rockets with 22 points, four rebounds, and two assists, backstopped by Dillon Brooks who torched Utah with 21 markers built from three treys.
Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith, Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason, Cam Whitmore also joined the offensive clinic as they delivered 15, 15, 15, 15, and 11 points, respectively.
Houston only had a seven-point advantage after the first 12 minutes of action but stepped on the gas pedal in the next frame as they outscored the Jazz, 37-20, to establish a commanding 24-point cushion heading to the second half.
From that point, the Rockets just steamrolled their way and dominated the Jazz, especially in the rebounding department where they led by a wide margin, 63-39.
Houston’s gang rebounding and size proved to be too much for the banged-up Utah squad which also resulted in 23 second-chance points off offensive boards.
Sengun and Smith almost out-rebounded the entire Jazz team, as both frontcourt stars pulled down 14 boards apiece.
Utah tried to bank on Isaiah Collier’s offense at the start of the fourth, but their massive come-from-behind win hopes shattered when they received a demoralizing 22-9 run midway through the canto.
Houston will look to eclipse the 50-win mark on April 5, 2025, as they are set for an exciting Western Conference showdown against the no. 1 team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.