Rockets officially clinch NBA Playoff spot with 143-105 thumping of Jazz

The Rockets are heading back to the postseason!

The Houston Rockets won their 50th game of the season and clinched an NBA Playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 143-105 dismantling of the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night. This will be Houston’s first playoff appearance since 2020.

Alperen Sengun had a near triple double with 15 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assists on 6-for-12 shooting to lead the way for Houston. Jalen Green had 22 points on 7-for-15 from the field including 4-for-7 from deep, and Dillon Brooks had 21 points on 9-for-16 from the field to pitch in for the Rockets.

The game started off close, but the Rockets stepped on the gas in the second quarter and pulled away, and this one was basically over by the third. Houston cleared its bench by the end of the game, and youngsters Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore even got in on the scoring action. Sheppard had 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in just 9 minutes of playing time. He shot 5-for-7 from deep. While Whitmore had 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists on 4-for-6 from the field in 12 minutes of playing time.

Other Rockets contributors were Jabari Smith Jr., who had 15 points and 14 rebounds off the bench, and Tari Eason, who had 15 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams did not play in this one.

The Jazz were led by Isaiah Collier, who had 22 points and 10 rebounds, but Houston held Utah to just 42.6 percent shooting as a team, and they were just 10-for-40 from three.

Houston moves to 50-27 on the season and hold a three-game lead over the Los Angeles Lakers for second place in the Western Conference. The Rockets return to action on Friday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder. But Houston holds the toughest remaining schedule in the NBA.