The Houston Rockets are not the best team in the Western Conference. That honor belongs to the Thunder. That said, the Rockets might be next, but the Nuggets are nipping at their heels.
So, tonight's contest with them means more than a typical game would.
Rockets are evenly matched with their next opponent
If Net Rating is your preferred metric, the Rockets reign supreme after the indomitable Thunder. Houston is +10.3. The Nuggets are right behind them with a +9.6 Net Rating.
Though if you subscribe to the philosophy that offense is more important than defense, Denver has a case as the second-best team in the Conference.