Time is not on the Houston Rockets' side. The Rockets, who are mired in a four-game losing streak, currently find themselves on the outside of the Western Conference playoffs, as they do not own currently own the tiebreaker against the Phoenix Suns.
So how crucial is tonight's game against the Dallas Mavericks? Well, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle seems to think it's pretty important. If the Rockets want to own any tiebreakers against the Suns this year, they're going to need plenty of help from other teams in the conference -- and, really, you're not going to want to have to rely on other teams' play to get into the playoffs.
Instead, the Rockets simply need to take care of business and end their losing streak -- starting tonight, against the defending champion Dallas Mavericks. After tonight's tilt in Dallas, the Rockets will head to New Orleans to take on the Hornets, before returning home to take on Golden State.
Houston will then travel to Miami to take on the Heat -- which might not be as bad as it seems. It's quite possible the Heat will have locked up the second seed in the East and will rest their regulars, but, there's always the possibility that Miami plays their A-squad.
Houston will wrap up their regular season at home against New Orleans on Thursday, April 26.
Bottom line: the Rockets can ill afford another in-conference loss, and tonight's game is pivotal for the Rockets if they want to be playing playoff basketball.
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