The Houston Rockets find themselves in a precarious position as they face the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Their free-throw shooting has been significantly underwhelming, leading to a series of close losses. In Game 4, a 109-106 defeat further highlighted their struggles, showcasing a free-throw percentage of just 63.2% in the playoffs. This follows a season where they ranked last in free-throw percentage at 73.8%.

Despite higher free-throw attempts, the Rockets have yet to capitalize effectively at the charity stripe. Notable discrepancies in individual performances, such as Alperen Sengun's 15 of 25 and Amen Thompson's 7 of 15, underscore the inconsistency. As they prepare for the upcoming games, improvement in this area could turn the tide in their favor and potentially shift the series momentum.