NBA Playoff Picture 2026, Updated Bracket, Standings After Rockets Clinch Spot

The Houston Rockets are going to have the opportunity to compete for an NBA championship after clinching a playoff berth.

Houston secured a spot in the Western Conference postseason with the Phoenix Suns' 127-107 loss at the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.

Updated Western Conference Standings

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (61-16)
2. San Antonio Spurs (59-18)
3. Los Angeles Lakers (50-27)
4. Denver Nuggets (49-28)
5. Houston Rockets (47-29)
6. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-30)
7. Phoenix Suns (42-35)
8. Portland Trail Blazers (40-38)
9. Los Angeles Clippers (39-38)
10. Golden State Warriors (36-41)

This has been a season of some peaks and valleys for the Rockets, dating back to the offseason. It started on a high note when they acquired Kevin Durant, but took a turn right before the start of training camp when Fred VanVleet tore his ACL.

It didn't appear that the absence of VanVleet was going to hurt too much when the Rockets got off to a 15-5 start after a win over the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 5.

Things haven't necessarily been bad since those first 20 games, but the Rockets have been more treading water than anything else. They are 32-24 since then with the primary issues coming on the offensive end of the court.

Houston ranks 16th in offensive rating since Dec. 6. Head coach Ime Udoka and his staff will need to find ways to get more consistent play on that end of the court if they want to compete with the top teams in the West.

Having Durant, who ranks fourth all-time in points per game in the playoffs, is a great starting point. He will be the focal point for everything the Rockets want to do, but the ceiling will be determined by how well players like Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard perform.

With their postseason ticket punched, the Rockets will be looking to win their first playoff series since the 2019-20 season.