As they conclude an increasingly satisfying year, the young and improving Houston Rockets will look to secure a .500 season when they visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena. It’s the 2023-24 regular-season finale on both teams.
After finishing in the Western Conference basement in each of the previous three seasons, Houston has already more than doubled its average win total (19.3) from 2020-21 through 2022-23. Now, led by third-year guard Jalen Green, they have a golden opportunity on Sunday afternoon to avoid any losing season altogether.
Veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks will sit out for Houston, as rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore grab bigger roles.
The Clippers are already locked into the No. 4 seed in the 2024 West playoffs, so they appear likely to limit minutes for several rotation players as they prepare for the postseason (which starts next weekend). That could give the Rockets a greater chance of winning, relative to both teams being at full strength.
With home-court advantage, the Clippers will face No. 5 Dallas in the first round, with Game 1 set for Saturday or Sunday in Los Angeles.
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