The Houston Rockets (34–21) remain in solid playoff position, but they’re still well behind the Western Conference’s true elite — trailing the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder (43–14) by eight games.
That gap could look much smaller if Houston were better at closing out games — a weakness that reared its head again at Madison Square Garden last night (Saturday, February 22, 2026), when they blew a 16-point lead entering the fourth quarter and fell to the New York Knicks, 108–106.
Of their 21 losses this season, 16 have come in “clutch” situations (NBA definition: games within five points in the final five minutes). Star forward Kevin Durant, who struggled late (2-for-7 for five points with two turnovers in the fourth), addressed the issue directly after the loss:
“In a lot of our games when we’re up 10, 12, 14, we just give it away because we don’t play with that dominant trait,” Durant said, per The Athletic. “I thought, in the first three quarters, we played with more pace. In the fourth quarter, we were just stagnant to start. It gave them momentum. We were giving up layups and turnovers. I just think we relaxed a bit coming into the fourth quarter.”
Durant started strong, scoring 25 points on 19 shots through three quarters, but his late struggles mirrored the team’s collapse. He hit a big three in the final seconds to cut New York’s lead to 107–106, but also had two turnovers, two fouls, and two missed jumpers (including a long last-second heave) in the final two minutes.
Clutch Stats Paint a Concerning Picture
Houston is now 14–16 in clutch games — the 20th-best mark in the NBA. Among realistic NBA Finals contenders, only the Boston Celtics (12–14) have a worse winning percentage in those high-leverage moments.
“It’s a lesson learned. Something we can keep growing from,” Durant added. “It’s a vital time for us to keep growing and keep getting better.”
Upcoming Schedule Offers Chance to Stack Wins
The Rockets are just 3–4 in their last seven games, but a favorable stretch lies ahead:
- Monday: host lowly Utah Jazz
- Then: Kings, Magic, Heat, Wizards, Warriors, Trail Blazers
Their next matchup against a top playoff contender isn’t until March 8 (at San Antonio Spurs).
This is a prime window for Houston to absorb the lessons from Saturday’s collapse — and from the many other close games that slipped away late. With better execution, focus, and “dominant trait” in crunch time, the Rockets could close the gap on the West’s elite.
Rockets fans: How concerned are you about the 14–16 clutch record? Think KD’s leadership and this soft schedule can fix the late-game issues? Comment your take below and share if you’re optimistic about the upcoming stretch!