In a season finale marked by rested Clippers stars, the Houston Rockets (41-41) clinched a 116-105 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers (51-31), ensuring a .500 season record.
Rookie Cam Whitmore’s standout performance with 21 points led the Rockets to a satisfying conclusion to coach Ime Udoka’s inaugural season.
Despite the absence of key players, including Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and James Harden, the Clippers showcased depth with standout performances from Terance Mann (24 points) and Amir Coffey (18 points).
With the Pacific Division title secured, the fourth-seeded Clippers look ahead to a playoff showdown against the Dallas Mavericks in the first round.
For the Rockets, rookie Amen Thompson’s triple-double of 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists highlighted the team’s promising future under Udoka’s leadership.
As the Clippers prepare to move to the new Intuit Dome in Inglewood next season, Sunday’s game marked the end of an era at Crypto.com Arena.
