Rockets Blast Clippers

The Clippers’ Elton Brand scored a season-high 36 points, but it didn’t matter against the Houston Rockets.

Houston won its sixth in a row and 50th of the season, 115-90, Monday night behind strong inside play by Yao Ming and some hot three-point shooting.

The Rockets clinched fifth place in the Western Conference and will face Dallas in the first round of the playoffs.

Yao had 24 points and Tracy McGrady had 16 points and 10 assists for the Rockets, who had their first 50-win season since 1996-97.

“We ran into a team that was very hot and shot the ball very well,” Clipper Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “Yao got too deep on us, and he’ll score on anybody in that position.”

Yao was 10 of 14 from the field and four of four from the free-throw line.

“The passion we’ve been playing with the last three games has really been good,” Rocket guard David Wesley said. “When we play as good as we can, it’s good enough to beat most teams.”

The Rockets scored a season-high 40 points in the first quarter on 76% shooting (16 of 21), including five for six from three-point range. Wesley, who was four for four in the quarter with two three-pointers, finished with 13 points and five assists.

Bob Sura and Scott Padgett each had 15 points for Houston and combined for eight three-pointers.

The Rockets lost three in a row before starting their win streak.

“We went through our little slump as a team,” said Mike James, who had 11 points. “I think it was good we went through it when we did because now we’re playing our best. The ball’s going in and we’re playing with confidence.”

The Clippers, who trailed by as many as 29 points, cut the lead to 70-57 midway through the third quarter, but could get no closer. A minute later the lead was back to 20 after a free throw by Wesley and two three-pointers by Sura.

Rocket Coach Jeff Van Gundy was worried about Houston’s lack of intensity early in the second half.

“We looked disinterested to start the third quarter,” he said. “That starting group, for whatever reason, is giving us a lot of subpar play either to start games or to start third quarters and that’s of great concern.

“Attention spans can wander through the season but if you have any desire to achieve, you don’t let them.”

The Clippers made only one of six three-pointers and were outrebounded, 39-28.

The Rockets (50-31) play host to Seattle on Wednesday to close the regular season.

Houston split the season series with Dallas, but one of the Rockets’ wins came with Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley on the bench.

“We’ve still got to improve,” McGrady said. “The playoffs are definitely going to be a different ballgame. Although we’re winning by a large margin, we’ve got to keep it up.”

The Clippers fell to 9-31 on the road.

The Clippers played without center Chris Kaman for a second game in a row because of a sore lower back. Forward Zeljko Rebraca (sprained left ankle) also sat out.

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UP NEXT

Wednesday at New Orleans, FSN West 2, 5 p.m. PDT -- The Clippers close out the season against the team that, despite greater expectations, replaced them at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. The Clippers hold a 2-1 edge over the Hornets this season, losing 88-85, Jan. 22 at New Orleans.