2022 NBA draft lottery race: April 7 update for Rockets, Nets picks

2022 NBA draft lottery race: April 7 update for Rockets, Nets picks. Houston Rockets were eliminated from 2022 playoff contention some time ago. They have two picks in this year's first round: Their own and one from Brooklyn. Teams within three games of both the Rockets and Nets in the standings are the teams to focus on.

Orlando Magic are within two games of Houston in the NBA draft lottery race.

Wednesday's games involving Nets, Knicks, Hawks, Wizards, Clippers and Suns are all important.

Magic plays Hornets at 6 p.m. CDT on Thursday.

The Rockets moved ahead of the Magic thanks to Orlando's unexpected win over Cleveland. The Pistons and Thunder were eliminated from the race for the No. 1 spot. Rockets have three fewer wins and only two games left to play.

Brooklyn is currently ranked 13th in the NBA draft lottery. Brooklyn is playing for a home game in a play-in tournament for the 2022 NBA playoffs. The Nets have a better chance of making it than the other teams within two games. If the Nets and Hawks are tied, Brooklyn wins the tiebreaker. The NBA's current lottery system draws for first four picks by weighted odds. It also draws the 10 teams who are not drawn by record. Even if the team with the worst record wins, it can drop to the No. 7 pick. NBA playoff results cannot change a team's draft spot.