Houston Rockets Face Crucial Test in Western Conference

0:00This is Corey with NBA News Today, powered by the Daily News Now. Subscribe for daily updates on your team. The Houston Rockets are entering a crucial stretch of games that could show if they're real contenders in the Western Conference. Sitting at the number three seed right now, they'll face several top rivals over the next few weeks to pull away from the pack. Denver has slipped a bit lately, thanks to a strong surge from Minnesota, keeping things tight at the top of the standings. Both those teams have flashed Elite Play all season, knocking off powerhouses like Oklahoma City and even Houston at times. Fans and analysts are watching closely after some tough losses, like that meltdown against San Antonio last time out, which exposed some weaknesses. Houston blew out Denver before, but the nuggets are getting healthier now. First up are back-to-back road games against Portland and San Antonio, where the Rockets want revenge. Then they host Denver one last time, followed by two against the Lakers in a five-game homestand and wrapped with a pair versus Minnesota.

1:01If Houston strings wins together here, it signals their playoff ready for deep runs. Struggles could spell trouble in long series, making this final push a true test of their ceiling. This episode is brought to you in partnership with our sponsor. Some people meditate. I just lay down and press play. S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com