L.A. Clippers at Houston Rockets 8:30 pm Recap | Boxscore *Rockets locked in battle for playoff seeding* LA Clippers (23-58) at Houston (54-27) 8:30 pm EDT HOUSTON (Ticker) - The Houston Rockets will be without their floor general as they attempt to improve their playoff position. Minus Rafer Alston, the Rockets host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday in the season finale for both teams. The Rockets are looking to bounce back from a damaging 105-96 loss to Utah on Monday, when they were held to a season-low 28 field goals. Houston is tied with Phoenix (54-27) and Utah (54-27) for the fourth seed in the Western Conference. But Monday's loss means that the Rockets need to win and hope Utah loses to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday in order to gain home court for the opening round of the playoffs. However, winning will be a little more difficult to do without Alston, who will miss at least a week with a strained right hamstring. The ninth-year point guard is averaging 13.1 points and 5.3 assists, and was a key reason the Rockets ripped off a 22-game winning streak earlier in the season. Los Angeles has lost six straight, including a 114-92 setback against New Orleans on Tuesday.