Rockets get division title, Heat miss playoff

The Houston Rockets blew out the Utah Jazz 117-91 to nail the NBA Southwest Division while the Miami Heat clinched a 105-101 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.

In their regular-season finale at Toyota Center, Houston dominated the game from the beginning to the end and never trailed. They had a huge lead as much as 39 points in the third quarter before clearing the bench.

James Harden had his fourth triple double of the season in time to sit out the fourth quarter with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, along with the most triple doubles in a season since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1989-90.

Dwight Howard scored 14 points, Terrence Jones had 15 points, and Corey Brewer added 14 for the Rockets. Bryce Cotton had 14 points while Chris Johnson chipped in 13 for the Jazz.

The Rockets, as No.2 seed in Western Conference, will play No. 7 seed the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs.

The Heat, who won two titles in the last four years, will miss the post-season for the first time since 2008.

Despite Wednesday's win, the Heat already lost their slim chance of a playoff berth on Tuesday when the Indiana Pacers pulled off a dramatic double-overtime triumph over the Washington Wizards.

However, the Pacers, suffering a 95-83 loss at Memphis on Wednesday, also saw their post-season hope dashed and the Brooklyn Nets edged the Pacers to clinch the final Eastern Conference playoff spot, beating Orlando Magic 101-88. Endi