The Los Angeles Clippers (48-32) extended their winning streak to six games with a 134-117 victory over the short-handed Houston Rockets (52-2) on Wednesday, April 9.
James Harden led the Clippers with 35 points and 10 assists, while Ivica Zubac recorded a triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. It was Zubac’s first career triple-double and the third by a center in Clippers history. Kawhi Leonard added 22 points and 10 rebounds, returning after sitting out Tuesday’s game to rest his knee. Nicolas Batum contributed 15 points but left the game with a sore right groin.
The Rockets, who had already secured the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference and a playoff berth, rested most of their starters, including Dillon Brooks and Alperen Sengun. Reed Sheppard led Houston with 20 points, and six Rockets players finished in double figures.
Houston’s Jalen Green is on track to start all 82 games this season, which would make him the ninth player in franchise history to do so multiple times.
The Clippers finished the regular season with a 30-11 record in their new Intuit Dome and made all 19 of their free throws, with Harden going a perfect 10-for-10. Los Angeles outscored Houston 35-23 in the second quarter, highlighted by Zubac’s 12-0 run.
Both teams play on Friday night, with the Rockets facing the Lakers in Los Angeles and the Clippers visiting Sacramento.
