The Houston Rockets will play the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. The Rockets are in the postseason this year for the first time since 2020. 

Houston is the No. 2 seed in the West after going 52-30 in the regular season. Jalen Green was the team’s leading scorer at 21.0 points, while Alperen Sengun averaged a double-double (19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds). 

Sengun is expected to be guarded by Warriors veteran Draymond Green. The last time Houston played Golden State, Sengun and Green were very physical with each other. 

Sengun is making his postseason debut this year and the 2025 All-Star told local reporters he’s looking forward to playing against Green, a four-time champion and one-time Defensive Player of the Year. 

“I like the matchup,” Sengun said. “I’m going to learn a lot of things from that matchup. He has a lot of experience; he’s one of those legendary players on that team so I’m so excited to play against him. It’s going to be hard but I’m going to learn a lot and I’m just going to need to answer him back.”

Houston Rockets forward Alperen Sengun and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green

© Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Sengun averaged 17.0 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists against the Warriors in the regular season while shooting 47.1% from the field. 

However, Houston went 2-3 versus Golden State. 

The Rockets have home-court advantage with Game 1 on Sunday at the Toyota Center. Green has never lost a postseason series to the Rockets. He and Steph Curry are 4-0 against Houston. 

Sengun and the Rockets were 14th in the NBA in points per game, sixth in points per game allowed, 13th in offensive rating, fourth in defensive rating and seventh in net rating during the regular season. 

Sengun, Green, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. have never played in the playoffs before, so it will be intriguing to see how they adapt to the increased intensity of playoff basketball.