NBA Notes: Rockets, Fred VanVleet, Timberwolves, Jazz

Rockets

Fred VanVleet‘s return from two ankle injuries has come at an ideal time for the Rockets, who went 10-9 without him, though they faced relatively weaker opponents, as noted by ESPN’s Kevin Pelton.

While the Rockets are unlikely to challenge for the second seed in the Western Conference, they are in a strong position to secure home-court advantage in the first round, thanks to a much easier remaining schedule compared to the Grizzlies, who have the toughest slate in the league, according to Basketball Power Index.

However, as the playoffs approach, there are concerns about Houston’s chances. Among Houston’s usual starters, only VanVleet has playoff experience. Additionally, the Rockets struggle in half-court offense, a significant weakness for a postseason team.

On the first play of a half-court possession, Houston averages just .92 points per play, ranking 26th in the league, via Pelton.

No other team with a winning record is in the bottom 10 in this category, and no team with a bottom-five half-court offense has made the playoffs since the 2021-22 season, when the Raptors (26th) and Pelicans (27th) both lost in the first round.

Timberwolves

While the spotlight has been on the Lakers and Warriors, the Timberwolves have been the NBA’s hottest team in March, going 7-0 with a league-leading +14.9 point differential, Pelton wrote.

Minnesota has benefited from a favorable schedule, facing just one above-.500 opponent during this stretch, and has seen unsustainable 3-point shooting success at both ends.

But this is the team the Timberwolves envisioned, with Julius Randle stepping up as a playmaker and Donte DiVincenzo catching fire from beyond the arc.

• The challenge for Minnesota lies in the standings. The Timberwolves have gained a half-game on the Warriors in March, but both teams remain 2½ games back of the Western Conference playoff pack. Despite having the easiest remaining schedule in the West, Minnesota is still the most likely team among this group to land in the play-in tournament.
• A first-round rematch against Denver as the No. 7 seed may not be a daunting prospect for Minnesota, which has won all three head-to-head matchups by a combined 52 points. The division rivals will meet again for a fourth and final time on April 1. The Timberwolves also split their season series with the Thunder. So the path from the play-in to the conference finals is long, though not impossible.

Jazz

• The Jazz’s biggest wins lately came courtesy of the Wizards. No, seriously.
• Washington has gone 5-6 in its past 11 games, leaving Utah with just one more win in the race for the NBA’s worst record — and the top spot in the lottery. So the Jazz are virtually guaranteed the maximum odds at the No. 1 pick, giving them a chance to select Duke’s Cooper Flagg.
• That said, falling behind the Wizards would secure the Jazz no worse than the fifth pick, which would be their highest selection since drafting Dante Exum at No. 5 in 2014.