Despite off-court controversies and an inactive trade deadline, the Houston Rockets have shown significant improvement on the court, moving to the No. 3 position in the Western Conference with a 34-20 record. The Rockets' .688 winning percentage since January 16 is second only to the Spurs among Western Conference teams.
However, Houston faces a narrow margin for error, trailing San Antonio by 4.5 games for the No. 2 spot, with the Nuggets, Lakers, and Timberwolves all within striking distance. The Rockets will look to build on their momentum when they face the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.