Hardly any starters played for Houston, but all of the bench did.
The Houston Rockets are in full NBA Playoffs prep mode. Head coach Ime Udoka rested most of the starting lineup, and though some of the bench guys, including rookie Reed Sheppard, played well, the Rockets fell to the Los Angeles Clippers, who are still fighting for seeding and played a full lineup, 134-117.
Sheppard put up 20 points for the Rockets on 7-for-14 from the field and 6-for-10 deep. He also pitched in 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in 37 minutes, in what might have been the best all-around performance of the season for the rook. It gives some optimism for the future, as Sheppard has mostly struggled this year.
Tari Eason pitched in 17 for the Rockets, while Cam Whitmore had 14 and Jock Landale had 11 points, 9 boards and 5 assists. Jalen Green had 5 points, but he played just 15 total minutes. Jeff Green had 19 off of the bench and Aaron Holiday 16, as Houston’s coach Udoka played pretty much all the young guys. There were even minutes for Nate Williams, N’Faly Dante and David Roddy.
Surprsingly, the Rockets shot 51 percent from the field as a team and were 20-for-40 from deep with the JV carrying most of the load, but they couldn’t replicate what the starters do on defense. The Clips shot 53 percent from the field and were 19-for-37 from three.
Former Rocket James Harden led the way for L.A. with 35 points and 10 assists, while Ivica Zubac had a Sengun-style triple double with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Kawhi Leonard had 22 points, 10 board, 4 assists and 3 steals to help pace the Clippers.
The Rockets fall to 52-28, but with the second seed already in-hand for Houston, the goal is to get everyone with minor bumps and bruises fully healthy for the upcoming playoff run. Houston has just two games left before their first postseaon contest in four years.