Can Rockets Remain The Best Team In The NBA?

HOUSTON, TX — The Houston Rockets were red hot going into the NBA All-Star break, and now they have the best record in the league heading into the second half of the season. The Rockets have star power, a new owner and a city with championship fever following last year's Astros.

The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers have met in the NBA Finals each of the last three years, with the Warriors winning titles in 2015 and 2017, sandwiched around Cleveland's 2016 championship.

Houston holds a half-game lead over the Warriors heading into this week as play resumes Thursday and Friday. The team with the best record gets the top seed in each conference. The Rockets are 2-1 against the Warriors, including a win during their only trip to Oakland in the season opener. The Rockets are 2-0 against the Cavaliers.

The Toronto Raptors lead the Eastern Conference at the break, and the Raptors hold a 1-0 head-to-head advantage over Houston in their only meeting on Nov. 14. The Boston Celtics, owners of the second-best record in the East, won their only game against by 1 point in Boston.

Houston Rockets by the numbers:

44-13 — Houston's league-leading record
10 — Rockets have a 10-game win streak going into the second half of the season
14 — Houston's longest win streak of the season, accomplished twice
21-7 — League-leading road record
31.3 — James Harden's league-leading points per game
23 — Years since Houston won the second of back-to-back titles

The Rockets resume play Friday night at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves (36-25). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Toyota Center.

Notable Games To End 2017-18 Season

Feb. 25 — AT Denver Nuggets (32-26)
March 3 — vs Boston Celtics (40-19)
March 6 — AT OKC Thunder (33-26)
March 9 — AT Toronto Raptors (41-16)
March 11 — AT Dallas Mavericks
March 12 — vs San Antonio Spurs (35-24)
March 18 — AT Minnesota Timberwolves (36-25)
April 1 — AT San Antonio Spurs (35-24)
April 3 — vs Washington Wizards (33-24)
April 7 — vs OKC Thunder (33-26)

Rockets Full Schedule/Results
Complete NBA Standings

Image: Houston Rockets guard James Harden reacts from the bench to a teammate's dunk against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)