Houston Faces a Familiar Opponent in Return to Playoffs

After a five-year playoff drought, the Houston Rockets are back in the postseason – and their reward is a clash with a familiar foe. The Rockets secured the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed with a 52–30 record, their first playoff slot since 2020 . Waiting at the No. 7 seed are the battle-tested Golden State Warriors, who clinched their spot with a 121-116 play-in win over Memphis . The Warriors’ victory immediately evoked flashbacks for Houston fans: Golden State eliminated the Rockets in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. Now a new generation of Rockets will either exorcise those demons or experience déjà vu at the hands of Golden State.

This matchup is one of the most anticipated of the first round, pitting Houston’s rising young core against Golden State’s championship pedigree. It’s even slated for a primetime tip-off on Easter Sunday (Game 1 at 8:30 p.m. CT) . Despite Houston’s superior seeding, many see the inexperienced Rockets as underdogs. Oddsmakers have installed the Warriors as favorites to win the series (Golden State -200 vs Houston +170), reflecting Golden State’s edge in star power and playoff experience. For Houston, a series win would not only propel them to Round 2 but also lift “the proverbial monkey” off the franchise’s back by finally toppling the Warriors in the postseason.

Team Stats and Season Performance

Both teams earned their playoff spots with strong regular seasons, but they arrived via different paths. Houston surged to 52 wins on the strength of a much-improved defense and balanced play. Under head coach Ime Udoka, the Rockets transformed into a defense-oriented team – they allowed just about 110 points per game (top-5 in the NBA) while scoring 115 (around league-average). They were also an elite rebounding squad, averaging 48.5 boards per game, attacking the glass at an historic rate. Offensively, the young Rockets are a middle-of-the-pack group, but have multiple players regularly contributing to the team’s success, with six players averaging double-figure points.

Golden State, meanwhile, finished 48–34 after an up-and-down season. The Warriors’ offense (114.2 points per game) was similarly average by NBA standards , but they quietly climbed into the top ten defensively, yielding about 111 points per game (7th in the league). That defensive rating marks a notable improvement from recent years and gives this veteran group another way to win when shots aren’t falling. The Warriors’ season was marked by injuries and roster changes, but they found a rhythm late. They had to battle through the play-in tournament to get here, but that high-pressure win may give them momentum. Golden State also took the season series from Houston 3–2 , evidence that their savvy can trump the Rockets’ youth. Notably, the five regular-season meetings were often low-scoring slugfests – neither team scored 110 in four of those games – indicating defense could again decide this series.

Prediction and Outlook

The series will come down to youth vs. experience. The Rockets hold home-court advantage and bristle with confidence after a breakthrough season, but almost their entire core will be tasting the playoffs for the first time. The Warriors carry the scars and wisdom of many deep playoff runs – Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler alone have logged over 15,000 playoff minutes combined , whereas Houston’s trio of Şengün, Green and Thompson have zero . That disparity will likely show up in late-game execution and composure. It often takes young teams a few lessons in the postseason before they learn how to win on this stage.

That being said, Houston has a real chance to discard their underdog status against the Warriors if they can dictate the terms. If the Rockets can defend with the ferocity Udoka demands and turn the series into a physical, half-court battle, they can negate some of Golden State’s finesse and shooting. Every extra possession gained through rebounds or turnovers will count. Offensively, Houston must avoid stagnation – their worst offensive outings against Golden State came when ball movement faltered (as in a 91-90 slugfest win ). The Rockets will lean on VanVleet’s steady hand and the fearlessness of their young stars to keep the pressure on the Warriors.

The Rockets of the 2024-2025 season have made their case over the past 6 months, battling every week to defend and hold the 2 seed in the vaunted Western Conference. Golden State’s core has been through every high-pressure scenario, and they have the proverbial “best player in the series” in Stephen Curry. The addition of “Playoff Jimmy” Butler gives them another closer and defensive stopper on the wing. Expect the Rockets to make it a hard-fought series – their energy, depth and home crowd will push this to six or seven games. But unless Houston plays near-perfect basketball, the edge in experience tilts to Golden State. Rockets fans should buckle up for what could be the most thrilling Round 1 series in years , and even if the outcome isn’t what they hope, this battle will be a priceless stepping stone for Houston’s young core. The stage is set for an electric showdown.