HOUSTON – With just one game remaining in the regular season, the Houston Rockets still do not know if Wednesday night will be their last game together or if the playoffs are in the future for this group.
Houston hosts Sacramento Wednesday night at Toyota Center knowing that a win will earn them the eighth seed in the western conference playoffs and send them into a best-of-seven first round series with the defending champion Golden State Warriors.
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A loss by the Utah Jazz, who are playing at the Lakers in Kobe Bryant's final NBA game, would also vault the Rockets into the playoffs.
The Kings are not bringing a full roster of players to Houston, only one of their top six scorers is even with the team as they wrap up another playoff-less season. DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo head a list of key Kings who are either injured or being rested over the final two games.
The top four seeds in the west are set with Golden State as the top seed, followed by San Antonio, Oklahoma City and the Los Angeles Clippers. None of the other four seeds have been determined, though only one playoff berth remains to be earned.
The opening round of the playoffs will begin on Saturday and Sunday.
Here are the remaining scenarios for seeding.
Portland will be seeded:
5th - if Blazers win OR Mavericks lose
6th - if Blazers lose and Mavericks win
Dallas will be seeded:
5th - if Mavericks win and Blazers lose
6th - if Blazers win and Mavericks win OR if Mavericks lose and Grizzlies lose
7th - if Mavericks lose and Grizzlies win
Memphis will be seeded:
6th - if Grizzlies win and Mavericks lose
7th - if Mavericks win OR Grizzlies lose
Houston will be seeded:
8th - if Rockets win OR Jazz lose
Utah will be seeded:
8th - If Jazz win and Rockets lose