The Houston Rockets stayed at home for the second game of their three-game stretch, taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. The matchup lived up to the hype, turning into an action-packed thriller, witnessing 22 lead changes and 19 ties before the Timberwolves came out on top with a 136-132 win.
Houston got strong performances from its starters. Amen Thompson put on a show, leading all scorers with 41 points while also adding nine rebounds and seven assists. Kevin Durant chimed in with 33 points along with seven rebounds and seven assists of his own, and Alperen Sengun chipped in with 22/6/8.
Even with those standout efforts, the Rockets fell short of extending their winning streak to nine games.
Minnesota’s win came from a true team effort. Seven of the nine players who saw the floor scored in double figures, each putting up at least 14 points. Anthony Edwards stood out the most. In his return after missing a week due to injury, he finished with 22 points and shot an efficient 50% from the field.
Houston Rockets Playoffs Picture: Updated Standings
The Rockets fell at the Toyota Center on Friday, dropping their record to 51-30. Even with the loss, their spot in the standings remains unchanged, as they still hold the fifth position in the Western Conference.
Houston Rockets Playoffs Picture: Remaining Schedule
The Houston Rockets are wrapping up their 2025-2026 regular season with a clash against the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis comes in as a lottery-bound team, sitting 12th in the Western Conference with a 25-56 record. This has been a favorable matchup for Houston all season, as they have won all three previous meetings by an average margin of 12 points per game.
With that being said, the Rockets have already locked in the No. 5 seed in the West, so the outcome of Sunday’s game will not affect their position in the standings.
If Houston wins and the LA Lakers also take care of the Utah Jazz, the Lakers would finish at 53-29, one win ahead of the Rockets. If the Rockets win but the Lakers lose, both teams would end up at 52-30. However, since the Lakers have secured the Pacific Division title, they would still be placed above Houston.
Meanwhile, the Rockets hold a three-game lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves in sixth place. Even if Houston loses to Memphis, Minnesota would not be able to catch them, even with a win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
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