The Houston Rockets have officially wrapped up the regular season! Next stop: playoff basketball, which is returning to Houston for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
On Sunday, April 13, the Rockets played their final regular season game against the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets won in blowout fashion, taking down the Rockets, 126-111.
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Amen Thompson and Fred VanVleet led Houston in scoring, with each man finishing with 15 points. Michael Porter Jr. led the way for Denver with 19.
The teams entered the matchup with different stakes. The Rockets’ playoff spot was locked in with three games to play in the regular season, with Houston clinching the 2-seed in the Western Conference after a big win against the Warriors on April 6 and the Lakers losing to the Thunder on April 8.
The Nuggets, on the other hand, entered today’s game with the same win-loss record as the 5-seeded Clippers and a one-game lead over the Warriors and Timberwolves in the next two spots, making their postseason placement all but solidified.
In an effort to keep players rested and avoid injuries, the Rockets have been comfortable resting their stars and playing their starters sparingly over the final three games of the season. However, the team decided to give their starters a little more tread today, with only Jabari Smith Jr. sitting out with a groin injury. The Rockets still took it somewhat easy though, with the bench unit playing the entire fourth quarter.
With the win, the Nuggets have clinched the fourth seed in the West.
