'Season Not Over': Rockets Path to Play-In Tournament Takes Major Hit with Loss to Mavericks

Despite their 11-game win streak ending, the Houston Rockets' race for the Play-In Tournament took a significant blow following their loss to the Mavericks.

Mar 31, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) reacts after a play / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

HOUSTON -- The Houston Rockets' 11-game win streak ended Sunday night amid a 125-107 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The loss inside the Toyota Center marked the second defeat in March for the Rockets, who finished the month with a 12-2 record.

The loss to the Mavericks ended their longest win streak since the 2017-18 season. But more importantly, the Rockets' defeat made their path to the NBA's Play-In Tournament a bit more challenging.

The Rockets' hot stretch in March left the franchise in a close race with the Golden State Warriors for the 10th and final spot for the Western Conference Play-In Tournament. While the Rockets sustained a blowout loss, the Warriors extended their respective win streak to five following their 117-113 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

Mar 31, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) reacts after a play / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

With nine games left in the 2023-24 season, Houston isn't giving up on its postseason aspirations, but the margin for error is thin.

"Easy, just put it behind us and look for the next one," Jabari Smith Jr. said. "Season not over, so just keep playing. We try to win every game, you can't win them all. We lost this one, just put it behind us. It isn't going to get any easier from here. Thinking about that, we got to go to a tough environment in Minnesota, so we got to put it behind us and get ready for the next one."

The Rockets (38-36) are two games back of the Warriors (40-34) in the loss column. And with Golden State holding the tie-breaker, Houston will have to go at least 6-2 to improve their chances of making the Play-In Tournament. However, the Warriors would also have to embark on a late-season collapse.

A loss to the Mavericks began a daunting week for the Rockets, which will feature a road match against the Minnesota Timberwolves (51-23) on Tuesday night. They will later open a two-game homestand with matches against the Warriors and Miami Heat (41-33). Their next three opponents are all capable of making a deep postseason run.

However, the Rockets proved during their successful run in March that Houston can compete with any team. Sustaining their "competitive mindset" will be the key to helping the Rockets get back to their winning ways with the hopes of surpassing the Warriors for their first Play-In appearance in franchise history.

"The fight, the toughness, the culture we're trying to build," Smith said. "That'll definitely help us, the must-win mentality for every game, l think, will help us going forward, help us win into next season, too."