Wembanyama's Spurs have a chance to lock the Rockets into an awful playoff matchup

Well, here we are! With Sunday being the last day of the regular season, there is still a lot to be decided. The Houston Rockets taking on the Memphis Grizzlies in the Toyota Center, but there isn’t much to say with the team being locked into the 5th seed. However, a much larger matchup can determine Houston’s playoff success.

The scenario is laid out simply. If Denver beats San Antonio, the Rockets face the Lakers in the first round. But if Victor Wembanyama's Spurs prevail? We’re looking at a matchup with the Nuggets in the first round. And San Antonio has motivation to win and push the Nuggets out of their bracket for a potential second-round matchup.

The Rockets are just 1-3 against the Nuggets this season

As most NBA fans know, the regular season is never a final determiner of what is to come in the playoffs. This Rockets unit is playing some of its best basketball of the season, but Denver can still not be taken lightly. It’s worth noting that Houston was competitive in three out of the four games they played.

Their most recent game against each other, though, was a 36-point blowout. Shutting down Nikola Jokic is not something you can expect, but being able to counter everything will be essential. The sole Rockets win in the season series was the one in which Jokic didn't notch double-digit rebounds.

A key part of that was having Steven Adams come off the bench and grab 12 boards. But as we all know, he’s out for the season. The Rockets will need other players to step up and fill his void as a rebounder and defender against Jokic, such as fellow centers Alperen Sengun and Clint Capela.

I know the obvious want is to face a hobbled Lakers team to start things off, but the reality is that an unfavorable matchup is always right around the corner in the West. All the top 6 seeds, going down to the Minnesota Timberwolves, have high playoff ambitions and the talent to win multiple series. If the Spurs take down the Nuggets on Sunday, the Rockets will have to be ready.

I always try to see the positive. If we can continue to see effective scoring outputs from the likes of Sengun, Kevin Durant, and Amen Thompson, the Rockets definitely have potential for playoff success. At this point, the playoff matchup is out of their hands and all they can do is prepare for any opponent. Even if they don't get their desired opponent, they still have a shot against anybody.