Rockets beat Clippers 93-75, secure No. 5 seed

[April 17, 2008]  HOUSTON (AP) -- Luis Scola had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets locked up the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a 93-75 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.

Backup point guard Bobby Jackson added 15 points and five rebounds, and Tracy McGrady made up for a 2-for-11 shooting night with 11 assists as the Rockets improved to 22-2 in their last 24 home games.

When the game ended, the Rockets were still awaiting their first-round playoff opponent. It could've been Utah, San Antonio or Phoenix, depending on the outcomes of Wednesday's two games involving those teams.

Jackson started for the second straight game in place of Rafer Alston, who strained his right hamstring against Denver on Sunday. Alston said he would likely miss Houston's first two playoff games.

Corey Maggette scored 22 points and Elton Brand added 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who've lost five straight to Houston and 17 of the last 20 meetings.

The Rockets stayed in the race for the No. 3 spot in the West until losing their last two games to Denver and Utah. They never trailed against the Clippers, though, starting 10-for-17 from the field and building a 25-10 lead. Scola hit his first four shots and a free throw, while Shane Battier and Jackson sank 3-pointers during Houston's opening burst.

The Clippers missed 14 of their first 21 shots and trailed 35-17 after one quarter. The Rockets' starters rested on the bench as the second quarter began and Los Angeles went on a 13-6 spurt to cut the lead to 11.

Houston's starting lineup returned and the Rockets retook control, stretching the lead to 58-42 by halftime. Scola had 12 points and six rebounds in the first half and the Rockets shot 51 percent (24-of-47).

Maggette scored 18 points in 17 first-half minutes for the Clippers.

Los Angeles cut the deficit to 10 midway through the third quarter, but Scola scored back-to-back baskets to push Houston's lead to 66-52. McGrady took a hard foul from Brand on a drive with 5:06 left, then hit two free throws to restore the halftime lead.

Maggette scored only four points in the third quarter and Houston led 78-60 heading to the fourth.

Houston led 80-62 with just under eight minutes left when Coach Rick Adelman started pulling his starters. Rookie point guard Aaron Brooks, the shortest Rocket at 6-foot, had the best highlight of the closing minutes, racing for a one-handed dunk near the 7-minute mark.

Houston won 35 of its last 43 regular-season games. The Clippers dropped their last seven games and 26 of their last 30.

Notes: Scola topped 20 points for the ninth time. ... Maggette reached 20 points for the 38th time in his last 44 games. ... Houston's regular-season win total (55) was its highest since the 1996-97 team went 57-25. ... The Clippers finished with their lowest win total (23) since the 1999-2000 team went 15-67. ... The Clippers used their 39th different starting lineup.

[Associated Press; By CHRIS DUNCAN]

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