Inside The Rockets

NBA Power Rankings: Rockets Dip After Back-to-Back Losses?

The Houston Rockets have lost two straight. Where are they in the latest NBA power rankings?

Jeremy Brener

Dec 29, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) is escorted off the court after being ejected against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Dec 29, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) is escorted off the court after being ejected against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images / Erik Williams-Imagn Images
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The Houston Rockets have dropped their last two games after winning four in a row following their elimination from the NBA Emirates Cup in the semifinal against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

While the Rockets played some of lighter competition, Houston hasn't been able to win at home in the past two games against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat, losing both games late in the fourth quarter in painful fashion.

The losses have pushed the Rockets down one spot in NBA.com writer John Schuhmann's power rankings. The team now sits at No. 7 after being at No. 6 the previous week.

"The Rockets have dropped the first two games of a five-game homestand, blowing double-digit, second-half leads against the Wolves and Heat," Schuhmann writes.

"The Rockets have a couple of days off before beginning 2025 with the final three games of their five-game homestand. They were 2-10 against the Mavs over the previous three seasons, but got a wire-to-wire win in Dallas in October, with six guys scoring in double-figures. Game 2 of the season series on Wednesday."

The teams ahead of the Rockets are the Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Rockets will tip off against the Mavs tomorrow at 7 p.m. CT inside Toyota Center.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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