The Houston Rockets tied for their second-longest win streak in franchise history at 15 with a 123-120 victory over the Boston Celtics on Saturday.
That ties win streaks of 15 from the 1992-93 and 1993-94 seasons from the Hakeem Olajuwon days. That 1993-94 team went on to win the NBA Championship.
The only longer winning streak accomplished by the team is when they won 22 straight when Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady led them in the 2007-08 season.
If they win their next game, Houston will join 29 other teams who have won 16 in a row in NBA history (five teams did the feat across two seasons).
As impressive as their current string of wins have been, the Rockets still aren’t even halfway to the NBA record of 33 consecutive wins by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1971-72 season.
Current win streak
Saturday’s three-point victory over the Celtics represents the closest margin during their last 15 games (previously was seven). The Rockets have scored at least 100 points in every game, but one, and they have allowed less than 100 six times.
Leading MVP candidate James Harden has averaged 29.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 2.0 steals during the streak. Playing in 14 of the 15 wins, Chris Paul has posted per game averages of 17.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.6 steals.
Upcoming schedule
The Rockets will now play their next four games on the road with the first three against teams that currently reside in playoff position.
- Tuesday 3/6 @ Oklahoma City Thunder
- Wednesday 3/7 @ Milwaukee Bucks
- Friday 3/9 @ Toronto Raptors
- Sunday 3/11 @ Dallas Mavericks
So three of their next four games are against teams over .500 including the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Raptors.
It doesn’t get any easier after that as The Rockets’ next five games after those also come against teams over .500.
- Monday 3/12 vs. San Antonio Spurs
- Thursday 3/15 vs. Los Angeles Clippers
- Saturday 3/17 @ New Orleans Pelicans
- Sunday 3/18 @ Minnesota Timberwolves
- Tuesday 3/20 @ Portland Trail Blazers
While the upcoming schedule is challenging, 10 of the 15 wins on Houston’s current win streak were against teams over .500.
Six of their next nine are on the road, but more than half (eight of 15) were on the road during the streak.
In order to tie the franchise-best win streak, the Rockets would need to win every game through the Pelicans matchup on March 17; they could break the team record the following day when they take on the Timberwolves.
