CLIPPERS’ WEEK AHEAD

4 GAMES

Tuesday at Houston, 5:30 p.m. PST, Fox Sports Net 2 -- Yao Ming, Steve Francis and the Rockets appear destined for the playoffs. Including this game, the Rockets face the Clippers twice more, with a chance to sweep the season series, 4-0. It could be just the thing to put Houston over the top and into the playoffs. The Rockets have beaten the Clippers four consecutive times.

Wednesday at San Antonio, 5:30 p.m. PST, Channel 5 -- What are we to make of the defending champions at this point? With Tim Duncan injured, the Spurs have slipped behind Minnesota in the Midwest Division standings and are third overall in the West, with the Lakers closing in on them.

Friday at Memphis, 5 p.m., PST -- A season ago, no one would have predicted that the Grizzlies would be where they are today. But Hubie Brown and Jerry West apparently have worked miracles. The Grizzlies haven’t exactly replaced Elvis (or is it B.B King?) as a Memphis icon, but the good news is the first playoff berth in the franchise’s history awaits if they continue to play as they have so far.

Sunday vs. Dallas, 7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Net 2 -- The Clippers have won two of three against the Mavericks, the winning team having scored 100 or more points in each of those games. Dallas scored 105 points but still lost by 10 in one of the games.

-- Elliott Teaford