The Houston Rockets secured their place in the playoffs by beating the Golden State Warriors 131-116 in Game 5 of their first-round series, avoiding elimination.

Fred VanVleet led the team with 26 points, while Amen Thompson contributed 25 points for the Rockets, who displayed an impressive performance to keep their playoff dreams alive. Game 6 is set to take place in San Francisco on Friday.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr decided to end the game early after the score escalated, opting to clear his bench after a layup by VanVleet put them up 93-64 midway through the third quarter.

Both coaches made strategic adjustments by substituting players as the leads shifted, showcasing Houston’s ability to maintain composure under pressure.

In addition, Dillon Brooks added 24 points, marking a night where all five Rockets players reached double figures. A brief altercation occurred during the final minutes of the game, leading to the ejection of Pat Spencer after he headbutted Alperen Sengun following a push on Brooks.

The Rockets solidified their position after suffering two earlier defeats in California, including a loss in Game 3 where Jimmy Butler was inactive due to injury. They established a significant 14-point lead after the first quarter and did not look back, going into halftime up by 27 points. Despite Stephen Curry’s efforts for the Warriors, who managed merely 13 points and struggled with accuracy, the Rockets prevailed.

The Rockets’ performance gives them a chance for a remarkable comeback to become the 14th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven series, a feat they accomplished twice before, the last being against the Clippers in the 2015 playoffs.