In a season defined by resilience, the Houston Rockets are writing a story that could go down in NBA history. No team has ever climbed out of a 3-0 series hole in the playoffs—but these Rockets are daring to be the first.
As they prepare for Friday's Game 6 against the Los Angeles Lakers at Toyota Center, Houston finds itself in rare company. They're just the 16th team in league history to force a sixth game after dropping the first three. A potential Game 7 would be played Sunday in Los Angeles, and if the Rockets can pull off back-to-back wins this weekend, they'd become the first team to ever win a series after trailing 3-0—a feat that's been attempted 160 times before without success.
At the heart of this comeback? A warrior mindset forged by head coach Ime Udoka. All-Star center Alperen Sengun didn't hold back when asked about Udoka's impact during Friday's shootaround.
"He's been doing an amazing job," Sengun said. "We know where we came from. With him, we're fighters. We're warriors. When I say we are hungry, I'm not saying just the players. The coaches are the same way. When we were down 3-0, everybody was still believing. We never give up. That's our chemistry, and it comes from them most of the time."
It's that chemistry—forged through adversity—that has transformed the Rockets from a team on the brink into one that refuses to back down. Udoka's leadership has instilled a grit that's become the team's identity, turning every possession into a battle and every game into a statement.
But don't expect Houston to get caught up in the history books just yet. As forward Jabari Smith Jr. made clear, the focus is laser-sharp on the present.
"We're just thinking about Game 6," Smith told reporters. "We're just worried about the task at hand, tonight. We're thinking about doing things that we've got to do to win. We're not thinking about Game 7. We'll think about it tonight, when we've got to pack our bags. Not right now."
That one-game-at-a-time mentality is exactly what's carried the Rockets this far. With tip-off set for 8:30 p.m. Central in Houston, the stage is set for another chapter in what's becoming a playoff run for the ages. Whether they make history or not, one thing is clear: these Rockets are warriors, and they're not done fighting.