The Rockets find themselves on the cusp of championship contention. Their disruptive, dominant defense is camera-ready for basketball's biggest stage. Their competitive fire and the fight instilled under head coach Ime Udoka can keep sturdy legs beneath them through the final rounds of a heavyweight brawl.

The 30-year-old Antetokounmpo, who led the Bucks to the championship in 2021, certainly competed in Game 5. He had a monster triple-double of 30 points, 20 rebounds and 13 assists on top of two steals and two blocks. Still, they weren't enough against the Pacers.