With Houston owning one of the NBA’s worst records, the 2022 playoffs are no longer an option for the Rockets. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to still watch for in the final week of the 2021-22 season.
From now until the regular season’s conclusion on Sunday, April 10, we’re updating where the Rockets stand in relation to their closest competitors in the race for 2022 NBA draft lottery odds and positioning.
Houston owns two picks in this year’s first round: Their own, and one from Brooklyn. For purposes of these updates, we’re going to focus on teams (at the time of publication) within three games in either direction of both the Rockets and Nets in the standings.
After a second straight season at the bottom of the West, will the Rockets land another elite prospect such as Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith or Paolo Banchero for their troubles? Scroll on for the latest updates as of April 4, along with information on odds and tiebreaker scenarios.
Editor’s note: There are no NBA games on Monday due to the NCAA’s Division 1 national championship game in college basketball. The next update in this series will come Tuesday night.
Sunday’s most relevant games (April 3)
It is beneficial to the eventual landing spot of both picks for teams in proximity to Houston and Brooklyn in the standings to win. The reverse is true when it comes to each team’s results, since the best-case outcomes for draft odds and slots arise from having a worse record.
With that in mind, here are the teams to focus on, as of April 4.
Teams within three games of Houston: Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder
Teams within three games of Brooklyn (either overall or in loss column): Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers
Sunday’s games involving any of those teams:
(NBA scores)
Story continues
Tuesday’s most relevant games (April 5)
Teams within three games of Houston: Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder
Teams…