The 2012–13 Houston Rockets season was the 46th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the 42nd based in Houston. The season is best remembered for acquiring All-Star and Sixth Man of the Year James Harden from the Oklahoma City Thunder in a trade. Along with Harden, the team brought in point guard Jeremy Lin after a magical season with the New York Knicks last year and center Omer Asik.

Despite a stellar season from new team captains Harden and Lin, the Rockets only managed to play mediocre basketball all season finishing with a 45-37 record, clinching the number 8 seed in the West. The Rockets season ended with a first round loss to Harden's former team, the Thunder in six games. As Houston hosted the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, Harden was the only representative.

This was the seventh playoff meeting for these two teams, with Oklahoma City (previously Seattle) winning five of the six previous series.

Last Playoffs meeting: 1997 Western Conference Semifinals (Houston won 4–3 over Seattle, the predecessor to Oklahoma City).

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