The Rockets lost an important player right before the playoffs in a meaningless game

Despite having long since locked up the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and home-court advantage throughout the 2018 NBA playoffs, the Houston Rockets have mostly continued to play their best players down the stretch, with reigning Coach of the Year Mike D'Antoni preferring to keep his key contributors in rhythm in hopes of entering the postseason this weekend in top form. With just over seven minutes to go in the second quarter and the score tied at 32, Mbah a Moute set a ball screen for Rockets star James Harden and then rolled to the basket. Harden set him up with a bounce pass in stride, and Mbah a Moute sliced to the rim, where he was met by Lakers center Thomas Bryant.