Will the Houston Rockets make the playoffs this season? (Rockets are longshots to make 2024 NBA playoffs)

Will a late-season surge be enough for Houston? 

The Rockets are the hottest team in the NBA right now having gone 13-2 over their last 15 games. Houston had an 11-game winning streak after taking out the Utah Jazz by a point on the road on Friday, though that was snapped in Sunday’s home setback to Dallas. 

Houston has played its way back into the NBA playoff conversation, though the Rockets remain a longshot to make it. Houston is currently the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference and trails the No. 10 Golden State Warriors by two games for the final spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament. 

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Rockets’ odds to make the playoffs in 2023-24 season

Despite the hot streak, Houston is a +800 ($100 bet wins $800) longshot on FanDuel Sportsbook to make the West Play-In Tournament, which is an implied probability of just 11.11%.

If they were to sneak into the play-in tournament, Houston would likely have to go on the road and win multiple games to earn one of the conference’s final two playoff spots. 

That’s why oddsmakers are believing this recent run is a little too late for the Rockets, who do not have playoffs odds listed. Houston's current two-game deficit to Golden State is actually three games by virtue of the Warriors' pair of wins over the Rockets earlier this season.

Should you bet on the Rockets to make the playoffs?

The odds are daunting and there's no real guiding light to support backing Houston to pull off the improbable and crack the playoffs in a loaded Western Conference. Nine of Houston's 13 wins over this recent stretch were against teams with a losing record. The schedule stiffens up for the Rockets over the final eight games of the regular season.

Houston ends the regular season with six teams currently with winning records and in the playoff mix. The Rockets are just 18-28 against teams that are above .500. Furthermore, Houston would have to leave the Lone Star State and run the table, which is something they've struggled to do this season at just 12-24 on the road.

Houston is just 6-11 combined against its final eight opponents this season. However, that includes a 5-1 mark against the Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers, the only teams remaining on the slate with a losing record.

It's been a great late-season run and maybe something to build on for next year, but the Rockets shouldn't be planning a playoff party anytime soon.

Game odds update periodically and are subject to change.