There are a few ways to look at Game 5’s all-out assault on our cardiovascular systems. You can say the Rockets muffed the chance to capitalize on Kawhi Leonard’s injury, that the Spurs dug deep and found the right combination of pace, lineup success and smarts, or call it a coin toss that could have just as easily resulted in Houston being up 3-2 right now.
All are true, really. Winning this series was never going to come easy, not with the stylistic challenge the Rockets pose, and especially minus Tony Parker and with a hobbled Leonard.