Clippers at Rockets
THE STORY: The Houston Rockets’ playoff aspirations were already slim heading down to the season’s final few games. And on Friday, those hopes were officially put to rest, courtesy of a Memphis victory. The Los Angeles Clippers had their destiny sealed long ago and will miss the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. Little else except pride will be on the line when the Rockets play host to the Clippers on the Saturday night.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FSN Prime Ticket, KTXH 20
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (41-38): The Rockets would have needed to win their final three games while Memphis lost all four of its contests to have a crack at the playoffs. The Grizzlies took the suspense out of it with a 101-96 win over Sacramento. It marks the second straight season without a postseason trip for Houston following a string of three straight appearances. The Rockets only have themselves to blame, dropping two in a row and three of the last five to derail their chances of sneaking into the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference. Kevin Martin scored 21 points but it wasn’t enough as the Rockets were defeated by New Orleans 101-93 on Wednesday.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (31-49): Los Angeles posted impressive back-to-back wins last week over playoff-bound Oklahoma City and Memphis, but the good vibes vanished with losses in their past two contests. Their latest was a 107-96 setback to Dallas on Friday, despite 29 points from Mo Williams. Blake Griffin added 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists as the Clippers dropped their 10th in a row to Dallas. Los Angeles will hope for a strong finish in its last two as first-year coach Vinny Del Negro’s job could be on the line.
WHO’S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Martin is averaging 29.7 points - 6.2 above his season average - over his last four games. Rockets center Brad Miller hasn’t reached double-figure scoring since getting 11 points on March 2 versus the Clippers. Williams has been hot from 3-point range, hitting 12 of 21 in his past three showings. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan has not assisted on a basket in four games coming in.
KEY STATISTIC: The Clippers are averaging only 91.3 points in their last three wins, but 100.0 in their last three losses.
SEASON SERIES: This is the fourth and final meeting. The Rockets took the first two contests before the Clippers won on their home court, 106-103, on March 2. Eric Gordon returned from an 18-game absence to score 24 points in the triumph.
KEY INJURIES: HOUSTON: G Terrence Williams (abdominal). LOS ANGELES: C Chris Kaman (knee); F Ryan Gomes (knee).
LAST WORD: "We may lose these games, but we're not going to lose because we're not going out and giving our total effort. You set a standard that you've been doing since the season began, let's live up to that standard." Rockets coach Rick Adelman, on the importance of not letting up in the last two games.