The last time the Houston Rockets played a playoff game — 1,663 days ago, to be exact — coach Ime Udoka was still an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers. Jalen Green had just become the first player to join the G League Ignite, Amen Thompson had just won a Florida state high school championship, and Alperen Şengün had just signed a multiyear contract with Turkish club Beşiktaş.
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On Wednesday, the Rockets (50-27) defeated the Utah Jazz 143-105 and officially clinched the Southwest Division title and a Western Conference playoff spot, ending a four-year absence from the postseason.
“It feels good to be back in the playoffs, and I’m sure for the guys that have never been there, it’s an accomplishment. But it was our expectation this year, building off of last year,” Udoka said. “I don’t think anybody’s overly excited — we did what we did and are in a good position. Now, it’s about maintaining that, and that’s more of the focus. We got five (games) to go, and it’s a tight race.”
Five games remain in the 2024-25 season, but what the Rockets have been able to accomplish in just two seasons under Udoka is impressive. The coach, who arrived from the Boston Celtics in 2023 after an NBA Finals run, has instilled a competitive spirit, dedication to work ethic and, most importantly, defensive intensity. Houston is third in defensive efficiency, according to Cleaning the Glass, allowing just 110.3 points per 100 possessions.
The Rockets clinching a playoff spot is a full-circle moment for an organization that languished at the bottom of the Western Conference for years after the dramatic departure of franchise cornerstone James Harden in early 2021. Since then, the Rockets brass rebuilt the team through the NBA Draft, bringing in six first-round selections over the next three seasons.
WE ARE SO BACK.
For the first time since the 2019-20 season, the playoffs are returning to Houston!#Rockets | #Liftoff pic.twitter.com/1rq3NCEpBJ
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) April 3, 2025
Now, Houston can shift its attention to potential playoff matchups. The Western Conference remains tight, with only 3 1/2 games separating third and eighth place. If the regular season ended Wednesday, the Rockets would face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round. But according to Udoka, the league is too unpredictable to favor one opponent over another, putting more onus on taking care of internal affairs.
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“As a player, you don’t really care as much,” Udoka previously said of matchup preference. “I think coaches get tricky at times and try to manipulate things, but I don’t think that’s the case with us. With the standings, it’s a much different game with the Play-In; if you get the No. 2 (seed), you could prepare for four different teams. With how tight the race is, you can’t afford to get too cute there, and you don’t know who you’re playing anyway. What we want to do is be healthy, play good basketball and be sharp going into the playoffs, regardless of opponent.”
Houston is picking up steam at the right time, as winners of 13 of its last 15 games. There are certainly issues to monitor over the next few weeks — Fred VanVleet’s health and Dillon Brooks’ availability due to accumulated technical fouls (Brooks picked up No. 16 on Wednesday, earning him a one-game suspension) — but the Rockets have fared well against the NBA’s elite despite their lack of playoff experience. Per Cleaning the Glass, Houston is fifth in point differential against the top 10 teams in efficiency, with the fifth-best offense and seventh-best defense.
That the Rockets have been able to reach 50 wins without a bona fide No. 1 option or elite shooting — two keys for postseason success — is notable. Offensively, what they’ve lacked in consistency has been made up for by excelling in transition opportunities and creating extra possessions with their rebounding prowess. Houston ranks first in offensive rebounds per game (14.8) and total rebounds (48.6), a vital advantage in a playoff campaign in which each trip down the floor is critical.
(Photo of Jalen Green: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
