Amen Thompson and the Rockets take on the Clippers on Wednesday night with the Western Conference’s No. 2 playoff seed already clinched.
Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — In one of the last games of the NBA regular season, the Houston Rockets (52-27) face a potential playoff opponent in the Los Angeles Clippers (47-32) on Wednesday at Intuit Dome.
The Rockets have clinched the No. 2 seed in the West and enter Wednesday on a three-game win streak. The Clippers jumped to fourth in the West after claiming their fifth straight win Tuesday night against the Spurs in the first game of a home back-to-back.
Check back here throughout the day for pregame updates and postgame coverage from the Houston Chronicle.
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The Rockets are officially resting players for the playoffs. Hours before tipoff against the Clippers, the Rockets officially ruled out five players: Dillon Brooks (rest), Alperen Şengün (lower back soreness), Jabari Smith Jr. (left groin soreness), Amen Thompson (rest) and Fred VanVleet (right ankle soreness).
The Rockets list center Alperen Şengün (lower back soreness) and forward Jabari Smith Jr. (left groin soreness) as questionable and guard Fred VanVleet (right ankle soreness) as doubtful to play against the Clippers.
At practice Tuesday, Rockets coach Ime Udoka said the team had “some guys nicked up and banged up.”
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“Fred’s dealing with some things he’s dealing with. Bari coming off the ankle soreness, and got a little something with the groin,” Udoka said. “And so we got a few guys that are nicked up, and hopefully we’re in a position to make some decisions about getting guys totally healthy at some point.”
VanVleet missed 16 games in February and March with a right ankle strain and has been managing pain since his return March 12. He sat out the Rockets’ April 2 win against the Jazz with ankle soreness, then returned and played in the next two games against the Thunder and Warriors.
Şengün has only missed four games all season and last sat out a March 3 loss at Oklahoma City with back soreness. Smith was questionable to play with an ankle sprain before the Rockets’ last game on Sunday, but ended up playing and was one rebound shy of a double-double in the Rockets’ win over the Warriors.
With the No. 2 seed already locked up, there may not be much reason to play them Wednesday.
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, who did not play against the Spurs on Tuesday night, is available against the Rockets. Injuries have limited Leonard to just 34 games this season and he did not play in any of the three previous games against the Rockets.
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The Clippers listed Norman Powell (right shoulder soreness) as questionable. Amir Coffey (left knee inflammation), Patty Mills (illness) and Ben Simmons (left knee injury management) are out.
When: 9:30 p.m. CT Wednesday
Where: Intuit Dome
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: 790 AM, 93.3 FM (Spanish)
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Favorite: Clippers (-10)
Rockets money line: +390
Clippers money line: -480
Over-under total: 217.5
