Despite Sunday's season-ending defeat, the Rockets can take pride in a campaign that saw them rise from the deck time and again. Five highlights:

1 Western Conference semi-finals, Game 6: After being blown out by the Lakers in a 40-point Game 5 loss, the Rockets jumped to a 17-1 lead. L.A. got as close as 54-52, but Aaron Brooks never let up, finishing with 26 points in a 95-80 win that forced the West's top seed to a seventh game.

2 Western semis, Game 4: A day after learning a broken foot would sideline Yao Ming the rest of the way, the Rockets got a career-high 34 points from Brooks and a season-high 23 from Shane Battier in beating the Lakers 99-87 to even the series 2-2.

3 Western Conference first round, Game 6: Ron Artest scored 27 points in leading the Rockets' 92-76 clincher over the Trail Blazers. It was the first time in 12 years that the Rockets won a playoff series.

4 The record A.T. (After T-Mac): After Tracy McGrady played his last game in a 12-point loss at Milwaukee on Feb. 9, the Rockets stood 31-21 (.596). They won their next six games en route to a 22-8 (.733) finish that saw them vie for a No. 2 playoff seed.

5 Rockets 93, Cavaliers 74: The fact the Rockets dealt Cleveland its second-worst loss of the season will look even more impressive if the Cavs win the NBA title. In this Toyota Center romp on Feb. 26, Yao had a 28-21 scoring edge on LeBron James, who failed to register an assist for the first time in his career.