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.

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.