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Jabari Smith Jr.: In winning streak, Rockets responding to pressure of 2025 playoff chase

On Friday, the Rockets ventured into unfamiliar territory for their young core, which includes Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and Tari Eason. Houston extended its winning streak to five games with a dominant 133-96 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, thereby improving its regular season record to 42-25.

This marks the team’s first winning season since 2019-20, and for those young players who were with the team in its recent rebuilding cycle, the dream of competing in the NBA playoffs is close to becoming a reality.

“It feels good,” said Green, Houston's leading scorer, regarding the first winning season of his four-year NBA career. “I get that question all the time. I ain’t ever been in this situation before. I don’t want to get too high in the moment. I want to be very present and enjoy what we’re doing, but at the same time keep our foot on the gas.”

Houston is currently No. 3 in the Western Conference standings behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets. While surpassing the Thunder is unlikely, capturing second place from the Nuggets (43-24) with 15 games remaining in the regular season is a realistic goal. With the standings reshuffled daily, it is vital for the Rockets to maintain their recent style of play, especially with 11 of the remaining 15 games coming against teams that are currently in the NBA's postseason fields.

“We are just trying to be more consistent with our energy, effort, and fight,” Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. told Rockets Wire. “We are playing for something right now. You see the playoff standings. You see what is going on. It seems like a little pressure on us, and we are responding to it. That is mainly what it is, and we are just trying to peak at the right time.”

“It feels good,” said Green about experiencing his first winning season in his four-year career. “I get that question all the time. I ain’t ever been in this situation before. I don’t want to get too high in the moment.” #Rockets#Sarge@TheRocketsWirepic.twitter.com/0Sk5C1oAwz

— BIG SARGE MEDIA LLC (@BigSargeSportz) March 15, 2025

More: Rockets (42-25) rout Dallas as Houston secures first winning season since 2019-20

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Jabari Smith Jr.: Rockets responding to pressure of 2025 playoff chase

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  • Rockets
  • Smith
  • Winning
  • Win
  • Rout Dallas

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