The play-in — the NBA’s version of the Wild Card round — concluded on April 18, with two games: Miami defeating Atlanta and Memphis knocking off Dallas. The playoffs start on Saturday, April 19, with four games, and will run through mid-June.

Houston has been tremendous ever since, though. In Game 5, the Rockets won 131-116 after three players scored 24 or more points in VanVleet (26), Amen Thompson (25) and Dillon Brooks (24). In fact, the Rockets took a 27-point lead into the fourth quarter, leading to head coach Steve Kerr clearing the bench early.

The LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets play Game 7 of an Eastern Conference best-of-7, first-round series in the NBA Playoffs Saturday at Ball Arena.