Houston Rockets clinch a playoff spot for second consecutive season

The Houston Rockets are formally within the NBA playoffs for a second consecutive season.

When Phoenix misplaced to Charlotte on Thursday, the Rockets clinched a spot within the prime six within the Western Conference.

The Rockets (47-29) are at present the fifth seed, one sport forward of No. 6 Minnesota (46-30). Houston trails Denver (49-28) for the fourth seed by 1½ video games.

Houston has six video games left within the common season and faces Utah at residence on Friday.

Oklahoma and San Antono have clinched the highest two seeds within the West. They will play the seventh and eighth seeds from the play-in event.

The Lakers (50-27) are at present the third seed.

If the present seeds maintain, Houston would play Denver within the first spherical in a best-of-seven collection beginning both April 18 or 19. The Nuggets gained the season collection 3-1.

The Rockets and Timberwolves have cut up their two regular-season video games and play once more on April 10.

Last season, Houston returned to the playoffs after a four-year absence and earned the No. 2 seed however misplaced within the first spherical in seven video games to Golden State.