With a 6-1 start and wins over two perceived Western Conference heavyweights (Oklahoma City and San Antonio), the Rockets have enjoyed a strong start to their 2026-27 regular season.
How strong? On Monday, at least two national publications ranked Houston No. 1 in their latest NBA power rankings.
From John Schuhmann at NBA.com:
According to tracking data, the Rockets have seen the league’s biggest improvement in shot quality, jumping from 22nd last season to seventh through the first two weeks. Kevin Durant’s shot quality is his highest mark in the 14 seasons for which we have tracking data, and he’s also registering a career-high free throw rate of 63 attempts per 100 shots from the field.
In coming to the same conclusion, The Athletic’s Law Murray
writes:
Houston’s improved depth hasn’t quite made the defense special, which makes sense. The Rockets don’t have great rim protection, they have a small guard in the starting lineup and their best player is 38. The Rockets tried to get away with lineups without centers in Dallas with Alperen Şengün nursing a back injury, and it’s one reason they aren’t undefeated anymore. But this offense has taken off, and Houston is deeper than it has been at any point under coach Ime Udoka.
NBC Sports and ClutchPoints each ranked Houston at No. 1, as well.
The Houston Rockets are the deepest they've been in the Ime Udoka era — and it has catapulted them to the No. 1 spot on this week's NBA Power Rankings 🚀
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) November 2, 2026
Read more from @LawMurrayTheNU: https://t.co/54TwrgCFwT pic.twitter.com/cYbG5Cisuv
Statistically, the Rockets currently rank No. 1 in the NBA in offensive rating and No. 2 in net rating. No team has more total wins than Houston, and that success has come despite injuries to rotation players including Sengun, Reed Sheppard, Steven Adams, and Marcus Smart.
As part of a planned maintenance program on back-to-backs, starting point guard Fred VanVleet — who missed all of last season with a torn ACL in his right knee — has also missed a pair of games.
The Rockets will look to build on their recent momentum in Monday’s high-profile home matchup versus the Boston Celtics (5-1).
Tipoff from Toyota Center is at 7:30 p.m. Central, and the game is being televised and streamed regionally on Space City Home Network (SCHN) and to national and international audiences via NBA League Pass.
#NBA Power Rankings, Week 3!Featuring the usual notes & numbers.www.nba.com/news/power-r...
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann.bsky.social) 2026-11-02T21:29:25.274Z
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: After 6-1 October, Rockets rise to No. 1 spot in NBA power rankings
