TITLE: Rockets Lock Up Playoff Berth After Suns Fall in Charlotte
SLUG: rockets-lock-up-playoff-berth
CONTENT:
The Houston Rockets clinched a place in the 2026 NBA postseason on Thursday night, securing the Western Conference’s fifth confirmed playoff spot when the Phoenix Suns lost to the Charlotte Hornets.
Houston sits at 47-29, holding the No. 5 seed in the West. Phoenix dropped to 42-35 and, with only five regular-season games remaining, can no longer close the 5.5-game gap between the teams.
The Thunder (60-16), Spurs (58-18), Lakers (50-26) and Nuggets (49-28) had already guaranteed their playoff participation, leaving three Western slots still up for grabs.
Despite an inconsistent 2025-26 campaign, the Rockets remain on pace for a second straight 50-win season. The team has played the entire year without guard Fred VanVleet, sidelined by a torn ACL suffered in September, and lost center Steven Adams to season-ending ankle surgery in January.
Source: HoopsRumors
